HOYER-LARSEN UPSET BY DUTCHMAN

April 13,1996 (D.Shuttlenws) - All-England men's singles champion Poul-
Erik Hoyer-Larsen, one of the hot favourites to medal at the upcoming
Olympic Games in Atlanta, suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of
Jeroen van Dijk during one of the matches of a Denmark-Netherlands
contest at the European mixed team badminton championships that started
today in Herning, Denmark.

Van Dijk, the Dutch number one, stormed to an early lead in the first game
to win 15-10. Hoyer-Larsen fought back in the second and was in a winning
position ahead at 16-14 when van Dijk put on an inspired display of
defensive badminton and stonewalled the Dane. Van Dijk then scored the
next 4 points to win the match at 18-16.

The loss by Hoyer-Larsen was the only blemish on the Danish performance
as they won the other 4 matches in the tie against the Netherlands.

In late afternoon play, the Eastern European countries of Ukraine and
Bulgaria continued to demonstrate their improvement as they both won
their ties against the Scandinavian nations of Norway and Finland in
second-tier Group D competition.

Ukraine, earlier victors over Finland, defeated Norway, 3 matches to 2,
while Bulgaria, winners over Norway this morning, trounced Finland, 4-1.

Results of today's mixed team ties
==================================

Group A -
Sweden   4  Germany     1
Russia   5  Poland      0
Group B -
Denmark  4  Netherlands 1
England  5  Scotland    0
Group C -
Wales    3  Iceland     2
Ireland  3  Austria     2
Wales    4  Ireland     1
Iceland  3  Austria     2
Group D -
Ukraine  4  Finland     1
Bulgaria 3  Norway      2
Bulgaria 4  Finland     1
Ukraine  3  Norway      2

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