WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: DONG JIONG ILL; FORCED TO WITHDRAW

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May 29, 1997 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - The world's top-ranked badminton men's singles player, Dong Jiong of China, has been struck by a respiratory system infection and has been plagued with high fever over 40 degrees (Centigrade).

Dong who led the Chinese team in their successful defense of the world team championships last week in Glasgow, Scotland, had to be brought to a Glasgow hospital for treatment. Dong received medical attention and was released but was advised by the doctors to rest.

Dong's illness has forced him to withdraw from the individual world badminton championships where he is the top-seed and favorite in the men's singles.

Dong had already won two matches in the tournament, despite his high fever, but was feeling steadily worse, specially after his 15-11 and 15-5 win over Pavel Uvarov of Russia.

Dong's withdrawal opens up the way for the twelfth-seeded defending champion Heryanto Arbi of Indonesia who was tipped to meet up with Dong in the quarterfinals.

Tenth-seed Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen of Denmark, Dong's scheduled opponent today, gets a pass into the quarterfinals due to Dong's withdrawal. He will face the winner of the match between sixth-seed Ong Ewe Hock of Malaysia and defending champion Arbi.

(martincoe/migrossman)