WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS: TEAM U.S.A. FALLS IN PROMOTION PLAYOFFS

**This NEW SHUTTLENWS report is presented by YANG YANG BADMINTON PRODUCTS and their Southern U.S.A. agents, SPORTSNET INTERNATIONAL (Email:jumpsmash@aol.com /Tel:713-771-8905/Fax:713-771-4444)**

May 23, 1997 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Team U.S.A. was defeated by a more internationally seasoned Ukrainian team this afternoon 4 matches to 1 in the division 4 promotion playoffs at the badminton world team championships in Glasgow, Scotland.

Today's loss means that the U.S.A., winner of Group 4A, remains in division 4 while Ukraine, the winner of Group 4B, moves up to division 3.

The fixture did not start well for the American side. Ignatius Rusli and Becky Wu were defeated by Vladislav Druzchenko and Victoria Evtoushenko 13-15 and 6-15.

Tom Reidy and Kevin Han, the only players on Team U.S.A. with significant international experience, came through in the men's doubles match with a 15-9, 11-15 and 15-10 victory over Valerj Strelcov and Konstantin Tatranov.

The Reidy-Han victory equalized for the the U.S.A., but it was all downhill from then on.

In the women's singles, Becky Wu lost to Elena Nosdran 8-11 and 2-11, while Kevin Han was suprised by Druzchenko in the men's singles 4-15 and 10-15.

Andrea Edstrom and Tang Yeping lost the women's doubles match to Evtoushenko and Nosdran 15-13, 9-15 and 7-15.

(migrossman)