DANISH NATIONALS: HOYER BEATS TIRED WORLD CHAMPION

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February 1, 1998 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - The 32-year old Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen, winner of the badminton men's singles Olympic gold medal in 1996, today recaptured the national championship of Denmark by defeating world champion and 1997 Danish titleholder Peter Rasmussen 15-4 and 15-9 in the finals of the tournament held at the Vijen Indraetscentre.

Hoyer had a relatively easy victory over the 23-year old Rasmussen, leading throughout both games by large margins. In the second set, Hoyer had a commanding 13-2 advantage before Rasmussen fought back with seven points to post a more respectable score.

Rasmussen seemed tired and sluggish today and did not have his usual power and movement around the court. He had played a marathon match in his semifinal against world number one Peter Gade Christensen on Saturday, with all three games going into setting before he was able to defeat Gade 16-18, 17-16 and 18-14.

In women's singles, Camilla Martin retained her crown, defeating Mette Pedersen 11-2 and 11-8. Men's doubles defending champions Michael Sogaard and Jon Holst-Christensen also kept their title with a 15-5, 12-15 and 15-7 win over Jens Eriksen and Jesper Larsen.

In the women's doubles final, the new combination of Marlene Thomsen and Rikke Olsen, both top-rated players with former partners Helene Kirkegaard (Olsen's) and Lisbet Stuer-Lauridsen (Thomsen's), defeated Ann Jorgensen and Majken Vange 15-11 and 15-10, while in mixed doubles, Michael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen beat Jon Holst-Christensen and Ann Jorgensen 15-2 and 15-5.

(mcoe/dsimmons)