*Asians expected to continue Olympic badminton dominance*
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By Cory Harris 
SportsTicker Staff Writer 

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Indonesia, China and Korea
are expected to capture most of the Olympic badminton medals at
Sydney, but a strong Danish contingent may have something to say
about that. 

The Asian nations dominated the 1996 Atlanta Games, winning 14
of 15 medals in what is considered the world's fastest racket
sport.  In fact, Asian players swept all medals four years
earlier in Barcelona, when badminton was introduced as a
full-medal Olympic sport. 

But a trio of Danish players are expected to contend for medals
in the singles competition, especially on the wide-open men's
side. 

Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen was the only non-Asian player to win a
badminton medal in Atlanta as he defeated China's Dong Jiong for
the gold. 

Hoyer Larsen's countryman, world No. 1 Peter Gade Christensen,
is considered the favorite, although several players could walk
away with gold. 

The Indonesian duo of Hendrawan and Taufik Hidayat, ranked Nos.
2 and 3, respectively, and No. 4 Xia Xuanze are among the
contenders.  But the big question surrounds former world
champion Sun Jun of China, who was selected to play despite an
injury-plagued year. 

Jun captured last year's World Championships in Copenhagen,
Denmark, but has not won since.  He has competed in only three
events this year due to injury and has seen his ranking fall to
No. 48. 

Surprisingly, Jun was named to the Olympic team over 10th-ranked
countryman Luo Yigang, based on his past laurels and the fact
that he owns a victory over Christensen. 

Kevin Han, 27, is the only American badminton player making the
trip to Sydney.  He made his Olympic debut at Atlanta and lost
in the first round. 

A battle for supremacy in women's singles is shaping up between
world No. 2 Camilla Martin of Denmark and rival Dai Yun of
China.  Yun, ranked third, suffered a dramatic loss to Martin in
last year's World Championships and has a chance at avenging
that defeat in Sydney. 

Martin, who is engaged to Christensen, not only has to deal with
Yun but two more formidable Chinese players in top-ranked Gong
Zhichao and Ye Zhaoying. However, Martin owns victories against
the Chinese trio, which could give her the advantage to break
through for her first gold medal. 

Defending women's gold medalist Bang Soo-Hyun of Korea did not
qualify for Sydney. 

The Indonesian duo of Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan and
reigning world champions Kim Dong Moon and Ha Tae Kwon of Korea
are the top contenders in men's doubles, along with the Korean
pair of Lee Dong Soo and Yoo Yong Sung. 

Lurking behind the world's top three men's teams are defending
gold medalists Rexy Mainaky and Ricky Ahmad Subagja of
Indonesia, ranked seventh in the world. 

China's Ge Fei and Gu Jun are the heavy favorites to defend
their gold medals in women's doubles.  The reigning world
champions' only challenge is expected to come from the
second-ranked Korean pair of Ra Kyung Min and Chung Jae Hee, who
lost to Fei and Jun at last year's World Championships. 

Two other women's teams that could contend for medals are Helene
Kirkegaard and Rikke Olsen of Denmark and Joanne Goode and Donna
Kellogg of Britain. 

After competing on opposite sides in the 1996 gold-medal mixed
doubles match, Korea's Kim Dong Moon and Ra Kyung Min have
joined forces to become the top-ranked team. 

The reigning world champions are expected to be challenged by
the second-ranked duo of China's Fei and Liu Yong, who lost to
Moon and Min in the semifinals at the 1999 World Championships. 

Other contenders for medals in mixed doubles are Tri Kusharyanto
and Minarti Timur of Indonesia; Michael Sogaard and Olsen of
Denmark; and compatriots Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager. 

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