INDONESIA: ARDY TO STUDY IN THE U.S.A.; ALAN LEAVES NATIONAL TEAM

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February 12, 1998 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Top Indonesian badminton player Ardy Wiranata is headed to Colorado to study at a university in Colorado Springs, according to an official of the Indonesian badminton association. Wiranata, the Olympic silver medalist in men's singles at the 1992 Olympic Games, is giving up his place in the national team to allow younger players to prepare for the 2000 Olympics and is going to pursue studies in Physical Education in order to get himself ready for a post-competition career.

By no mean coincidence, the American badminton high-performance training center in located in Colorado Springs and, according to the same official, Wiranata will be helping out with the development of the American players who train in Colorado Springs.

Wiranata has been in Colorado Springs before on a visit and has practiced with the American training squad.

In a related development, Alan Budi Kusuma, the 1992 men's singles Olympic gold medal winner, has resigned from the Indonesian national training center following his omission from the Indonesian Thomas Cup squad and from the Indonesian contingent to the All-England championships.

(dsimmons)