USA NATIONALS: HAN AND SHI AMERICA'S 1997 CHAMPIONS
by Mike Grossman and Martin Coe

** This NEW SHUTTLENWS report is presented by the ORANGE COUNTY BADMINTON CLUB, City of Orange, California (714-639-6222) - one of the best places to play BADMINTON in the world. **

April 7, 1997 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Kevin Han of Colorado and Cindy Shi of Southern California each captured two titles at the 1997 U.S. National Badminton championships held this past week at the world-class Orange County Badminton Club in the city of Orange, a hour's drive from Los Angeles.

Han, a native of Shanghai, China who is now an American citizen, easily disposed of Ignatius Rusli of Southern California in the men's singles championship match held yesterday 15-9 and 15-4. Han had represented the United States at the Atlanta Olympic Games and is world-ranked in the top ten percent among men's singles players. Rusli comes from badminton powerhouse nation Indonesia where he played for one of the top badminton clubs before he moved to the United States.

Han also won the men's doubles title together with New York native Tom Reidy, now of Colorado. Han and Reidy defeated 1992 Olympian Benny Lee of Northern California and Rusli 15-8 and 15-1 in yesterday's finals.

Cindy Shi came back from the brink of defeat in the women's singles championship match to capture one of her two gold medals. Shi had lost the first game to Yeping Tang of Maryland 5-11 and barely survived a very close second game 12-11 to stay in the match. Tang had very little left afterwards and Shi won the deciding third game going away 11-4.

Yeping Tang did win a U.S. national championship though. Tang and Cindy Shi had paired up for the women's doubles event and they ended up with all the marbles. The two made mincemeat of Eileen Tang and Becky Wu in the first game of the finals 15-1 and and then let up somewhat in the second to win at 15-8.

Trisna Gunadi and Eileen Tang of Southern California took the mixed doubles title, defeating Hoang Ly and Cindy Shi in the championship match 8-15, 15-10, and 15-11.