Denmark's Hoyer-Larsen wants to go out in style

COPENHAGEN (JP): Olympic badminton champion Poul-Erik Hoyer- Larsen may turn 33 this year, but do not expect him to play like an old man in the World Championships here at Brondby Hall.

Although he had to expend all his energy in winning his first round match against Rio Suryana, an Indonesian playing for Australia, 17-14, 15-5, the left-hander still displayed world- class play despite lacking speed and power.

Taking part in the World Championships since 1991, the Dane has only recently begun to show the effects of age. In 1998, he did not win a single tournament.

"People have started to ask me when will I retire. It has caused me lots of tension. I will retire if I win the tournament," he said.

"But some people take this the wrong way. They think I will resign after the championships no matter what the results.

"If I don't win but I think I played some good matches here or if it is really close, then I may play in several major tournaments. If I lose in the opener, that's another story," he said.

Hoyer-Larsen won the All England, the most prestigious badminton tournament, in 1995 and 1996. All his world-class play was on display at the 1996 Centennial Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, where he won the gold medal.

Born on Sept. 20, 1965, Hoyer-Larsen married long-time girlfriend Heidi in 1993 after a six-year engagement. They have two sons, Lasse and Mikkel, and are known as a close-knit family. When playing tournaments in European countries, the 188- centimeter Dane always travels with his family.

On Sunday, the family celebrated Lasse's fourth birthday. The party, held in the backyard of the family's house, was covered by a local TV station.

Hoyer-Larsen said he expected to meet Malaysian Rashid Sidek in the third round of the World Championships and Indonesian Hendrawan in the quarterfinals.

"My target in the championships is, of course, to win, but I have to beat Rashid and Hendrawan first. It's a very difficult task, but it is possible."

"I still have my speed during the games. Although I made many mistakes today, I still have my control."

Hoyer-Larsen said he was almost as prepared for this year's championships as he was for the Olympics.

"I didn't make any mistakes for a week before the Olympics. I was very accurate. I didn't feel that this time but my speed is still at the same level."

Thinking about the future, the Dane has been offered a position on the marketing team of private telecommunications company Teledanmark.

On the possibility of his sons picking up the racquet to follow in their father's footsteps, Hoyer-Larsen said he would not force his sons to become shuttlers.

"It's up to them to become shuttlers. I don't want to push them. If they want to carry on, then I will help them as long as I can. The most important thing is they can have fun with the sport."

"Lasse realizes he is not very good in badminton. But if he wants to join me on the court and only run around, that's okay." (yan)