HAN 4-PEATS AS SINGLES CHAMPION, BEATS LOCAL OLYMPIC HOPEFUL IN IBF BADMINTON TOURNAMENT

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(MIAMI LAKES, FLORIDA) – Two time U.S. Olympian (1996, 2000) Kevin Han recently 4-peated as the Men’s singles champion in the recently concluded Southern Pan Am Classic, an internationally sanctioned tournament, run in conjunction with the International Badminton Federation (IBF) and USA Badminton, the IOC and USOC recognized National Governing Body for badminton. The events took place November 2 – 4th, 2001 at Don Shula’s Athletic Club in Miami Lakes, FL.

It took a mere 3 sets for Han, currently the #25 ranked player in the world, to defeat the Germany’s Conrad Hueckstaedt, (ranked #65), 7-0, 7-1,7-1. Hueckstaedt, currently training with the Canadian National team in Calgary, Canada, seemed out of sync despite having a strong tournament leading up to the finals. Han has been on a roll, however, having helped the US clinch its first-ever team title at the Pan-American Championships last week in Lima, Peru with a 3-2 team victory over Canada.

On his way to victory, Han defeated local junior athlete Alberto Companioni. Companioni, a former member of the Cuban National Junior Team, immigrated to Miami in 1998 and played for Gables High Badminton program. He is currently a member of the US National Junior team and is training at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, NY.

RESULTS:

MEN'S SINGLES:  Kevin Han (USA, #25) def. Conrad Hueckstaedt (GER, #65), 7-0, 7-1, 7-0

WOMEN'S SINGLES: Meiluawati (USA, #60) def. Sandra Jimeno (PERU, #67) 7-2,7-0,7-0

MEN’S DOUBLES: Kevin Han/Howard Bach (USA – ranked # 20) beat Pedro Yang (Guatemala) / Tjitte Weistra (Peru) in 4 sets, 5-7, 7-0, 7-0, 7-3

WOMEN’S DOUBLES: Mesinee Mangkalakiri / Meiluawati (USA) teamed up to beat Sandra Jimeno / Doriana Rivera (Peru – rank # 32) 0-7,7-3,7-5,7-3

MIXED DOUBLES: Bob Malaythong/Mesinee Mangkalakiri (US ) def. Nigella Saunders/Bradley Graham (Jamaica), 7-8, 7-5,6-8,7-5,7-1