"WORLD BADMINTON" GETS FACELIFT

February 10, 1997 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - The "World Badminton" magazine has premiered a new, more "today" look in its January/February issue. The periodical, published by the International Badminton Federation four times a year, has gone for a 90's look and feel.

The new "World Badminton" magazine has adopted a totally different style as it begins its 25th year of publication. Color schemes are more varied and pleasing to the eye and the layouts have acquired a more dynamic, sporty feel with more colour pictures than before.

The magazine has also acquired the talents of two experienced badminton journalists - Sue Ashton and Brigitta Isworo. Ms. Ashton has been the managing editor of the "Badminton" magazine, the official publication of the Badminton Association of England and has now also taken up a similiar concurrent post with "World Badminton".

Ms. Isworo is one of the badminton specialist reporters with Kompas, the Indonesian newspaper with probably the best badminton coverage. She is now also a regular writer for "World Badminton" and she brings to the magazine badminton news and views from that badminton-crazy part of the world.

Leaving the controls of the periodical are Roy Ward and Richard Eaton. Mr. Ward and Mr. Eaton were the key persons behind "World Badminton" in the past. Though no longer involved in the editorial and publishing aspects of the magazine, both Mr. Ward and Mr. Eaton will still be contributing articles.

Gillian Clark, England's former pillar of strength in women's and mixed doubles and now an English-language color commentator for Star-TV, continues to write for "World Badminton, as does Hans Moller, the Danish dean of badminton reporters. Sanjay Sharma, an Indian badminton journalist and Ms. Clark's Hindi-language colleague at Star-TV, also continues to contribute.

And that Kenny Rogers lookalike who can be seen at all the big badminton events with cameras in hand and in the bag, Preben Soborg, continues to supply many of the great pictures that one finds in great numbers in the new-look magazine.

The 25th year of the magazine also ushers in a new way to subscribe to "World Badminton". Kate Killworth, the badminton federation's newly promoted director of marketing, has taken the magazine and the federation into the 90's and has made arrangements with their bankers to finally accept major credit cards as payment for magazine subscriptions, videos and special publications.

(An international subscription to "World Badminton" costs 10 British pounds per year, air mail included. Subscriptions can be faxed to 011-44-1242-221030 mentioning name, full postal address, country, credit card number with expiration date and the amount of payment. Acceptable credit cards are Visa, Mastercard and Delta).