ALL-ENGLAND OPEN: TOP PLAYERS TO CLASH IN EARLY ROUNDS

** This NEW SHUTTLENWS report is sponsored by YANG YANG BADMINTON SHUTTLES and their USA agents, CHIN SPORTS (212-645-4142 or chinsports@aol.com). **

March 10, 1997 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Because of the history and prestige of the All-England Open and its status as the unofficial world championships of badminton, many top players have entered the competition. Some of these players have not been seeded due to the number of quality players entered, resulting in several early clashes of top players.

In men's singles, the 1996 Olympic silver medalist Dong Jiong of China battles the 1992 Olympic silver medalist Ardy Wiranata of Indonesia in the first round and Taipei Open champion Peter Gade-Christensen of Denmark faces China's Lin Liwen. Korean Open titleholder Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen plays Luo Yigang of China, while top Indonesian player Joko Suprianto goes up against a tough Chinese youngster Ji Xinpeng.

In the second round, Joko could face Japan Open winner Peter Rasmussen of Denmark, if both players win their openers as expected.

In men's doubles, 7-seeds Zhang Wei and Liu Yong of China open up against Danish Open champions Thomas Stavngaard and Jim Laugessen after first round byes. 4-seeds Kantono and Antonius of Indonesia face England's Simon Archer and Chris Hunt also after first round byes, while 5-seeds Ha Tae Kwon and Kang Kyung Jin meet a new pairing of Danish veterans in Thomas Lund and Christian Jakobsen. 8-seeds Andrej Antropov and Nikolaj Zuev will be tested early by Ji Xinpeng and Yang Zhuo of China.

Michael Sogaard and Jon Holst-Christensen of Denmark could clash with top Koreans Yoo Yung Sung and Lee Dong Soo in the second round, if both pairs win their openers. Indonesia's Bambang Suprianto and Dicky Purwotsugiono are scheduled to face Jens Eriksen and Jesper Larsen of Denmark, also in the second round.

In women's doubles, the runners-up in the recent Swedish Open, Julie Bradbury and Donna Kellogg of England go up in the first round against top-seeds Ge Fei and Gu Jun of China. 4-seeds Denyana Lomban and Indarti Isoliana of Indonesia face China's Gong Zhichao and Zhang Ning.

2-seeds Rosiana Zelin and Eliza Nathanael of Indonesia are slated to play Koreans Jang Hye Ock and Kim Shin Young in the second round.

In mixed doubles, 4-seeds Thomas Stavngaard and Ann Jorgensen of Denmark face England's Chris Hunt and Joanne Wright in the first round, while former All-England champion Nick Ponting and last year's runner-up Julie Bradbury, both from England, go up against Scottish Open champions Jens Olsson and Astrid Crabo of Sweden in the first round.