ALL-ENGLAND OPEN: PARK JOO BONG, CONSTABLE HONOURED
by Mike Grossman

** This NEW SHUTTLENWS report is sponsored by YANG YANG BADMINTON PRODUCTS and their UK agents, SUNRISE SPORTS (07050-182838/fax:07050-183838). **

March 15, 1997 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Badminton legend Park Joo Bong of Korea was honoured during the finals of the All-England Open tournament by the International Badminton Federation with the award of the Herbert Scheele trophy. The award, named after the badminton federation's founding president, was given in recognition of Park's many contributions to the sport as one of its top competitors.

Park was one of the best ever to play men's and mixed doubles, winning an Olympic gold medal in 1992 as well as Olympic exhibition gold medals in 1984 and in 1988. He won the men's doubles and mixed doubles world titles twice and also the All-England mixed doubles crown 5 times and the men's doubles title 4 times. Aside from these, Park has countless tournament victories.

Park now resides in Milton Keynes, a new city located north of London, and is the British Olympic team badminton coach. He is working with the top players from the nations that make up the British Olympic Association - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and is trying to develop British medal contenders for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

Mark Constable, a young English men's singles specialist, was also honoured by the Badminton Association of England with the Wyatt trophy as the best English player during the All-England Open. Constable reached the round-of-32 where he took a game off world champion Heryanto Arbi of Indonesia before losing the match.

Constable beat out veteran Chris Hunt for the award. Hunt had carried his rookie partner Donna Kellogg into the mixed doubles semifinals, the best finish for the English in this year's All-England. Hunt was also deserving of the trophy, but the selectors' nod though went to Constable as a reward for his effort against the world champion and as an encouragement for the future.