Bach competed in the 2004 Olympics with a different partner, and Gunawan won a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics, competing for Indonesia.  In the final match, Gunawan was playing against his former partner whom he had won the gold medal with five years ago.

Gunawan and Bach spoke, along with USA Badminton Executive Director Dan Cloppas, about their win and the sport of badminton.

Q1: Can you summarize your thoughts on winning the world title?

TONY GUNAWAN: Its like a dream come true to come to the United States to try to promote this sport.  Yesterday was unbelievable.  We didn’t expect that we were going to win, but we won anyway.  It was really incredible and amazing yesterday.

HOWARD BACH: Let’s put it this way.  Last night I stepped on the court with three legends that I normally watch on my VHS and DVDs.  To be a part of history, to actually be a world champion at home is definitely amazing and so surreal.  Looking back in the Olympics, I wish I would have done a little bit better.  So, a year later, here I am.

Q2: What does this win mean to USA Badminton and the sport of badminton in the U.S.?

DAN CLOPPAS: As Howard amply put last night at his press conference; we’re out of the backyard barbeque syndrome.  I think the people in America certainly have an appreciation for what it takes to be an athlete in this sport.  After watching those three grueling matches last night, I don’t know how they even walked off the court, much less played.  This is huge for USA Badminton.  Now I think children in grade school are going to start looking at the sport differently and saying, ‘Maybe I don’t want to go into basketball or football.  I want to be like Tony and Howard.’ That’s amazing when the sport can reach that point.

Q3: What was the atmosphere like last night?  Was there an advantage playing in the U.S.?

HOWARD BACH: First of all, it blew my mind to be playing on Sunday, in the finals match.  It has been a long, gruesome seven days, and to be a part of last night with 10,000 plus fans right behind you throughout the whole three games was definitely a dream come true.  I still think I am dreaming right now.  I try to play to my advantage.  I am an underdog, Tony and I.  I am the no-namer amongst to the other three on the court, and I had everything to prove.  Last night I just went out there enjoyed, had fun and never looked back.  The crowd was right behind me.  There was a big-time advantage.

Q4: Tony, you came here with a great reputation.  Are you surprised that coming to the United States you would become a champion this quickly?

TONY GUNAWAN: Yeah, I am really surprised, and I want to give a lot of credit to Howard.  This week, he played incredible, and he can cover everything for me in the back.  It is surprising because I think players here have the ability to be champions.  There are such little, little things they need to work on to make them a champion.

Q5: Howard, how did you get into the sport?

HOWARD BACH:  I first started badminton at the age of 5 at the local YMCA.  That’s how I picked the sport.  My dad used to love playing it back in Vietnam.  It was actually his dream to make the Olympics representing Vietnam.  He never had the time or the opportunity.  I imposed this burned upon me, and hopefully, I can achieve it for him.  Ever since then, I never looked back.  I just try to enjoy the game as much as I can and live up to my dad’s expectations.  Last night, I did.

Q6: Tony, when did you leave Indonesia, and what brought you here?

TONY GUNAWAN: I came here almost four years ago to continue my studies.  I am studying computer engineering at Devry.  At that time, I met Mr. Chew, and he was really generous offering me a job in his club to become a coach and player.  He also shared his dream to help badminton grow in the United States.  That has also become my goal now.

Q7: Tony, was the World Championships your last major event and what’s the status of your green card?

TONY GUNAWAN: My status right now is becoming a citizen right now in the United States.  I already got approved, but the real green card has not come yet.  Right now, I’d like to compete in the Olympics in three more years, but that is far.  I take it year by year.  Three years is quite far.  Right now I am 30, and in three more years, I will be 33.  This sport you need stamina and physical everything.  You cannot fight against your age.  Let’s see what happens.

Q8: What was your goal going into the World Championships?

HOWARD BACH: Coming into the Championships, our target was to medal and actually make history.  As the week proceeded, we played better everyday and exceeded our expectations.  Just medaling and getting the bronze is no longer our goal now.

Q9: Is there a home-court advantage in badminton?

DAN CLOPPAS: Yes, definitely.  I watched these guys last night.  It was a slugfest, and it went three long matches.  I thought they were going to throw in the towel when it was 9-9 in the third game, and it was so intense.  All the sudden the crowd just swelled, and these guys got re-energized and closed it out.  Tony has been in those situations before.  He knows what it is like.  The Pond was really rocking last night.

HOWARD BACH: Throughout the whole entire week, I fed on the crowd and the energy they bring to me during every game and match along the way.  I felt like there were times where we competed against Malaysia, Denmark, Indonesia and we were down, but the crowd had faith and confidence in us.  Just to be able to feel what the crowd wants you to do on the court, which is to succeed and win the gold medal, I felt it and used it to my advantage.  The crowd played a big role.

Q10: What was the first thing that went through your head when it was all over?

HOWARD BACH: I was enjoying last night so much, that I felt like it was just another practice game.  I didn’t know what to expect.  It wasn’t just about stepping onto the court and winning a medal.  I came out and intended to do that, but love the game so much.  To be able to have that opportunity to show the world that Americans love that sport as well is what I was feeling last night.

Q11: Howard, was your win last night even bigger because it came on American soil?

HOWARD BACH: It means a lot to me.  In order to showcase badminton in the U.S., what better place can you have it?  Last night was brilliant.  The crowd was there.  You just can’t beat it.  The whole world was tuning in.  We had Asia, Europe and everyone watching, but the most important part was the fans in the U.S. in the closed-in, live experience.  That means a lot.