Found this while browsing the Net.

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/clbp/message/420

Looks like Han, Bach, Guwanan, Heranyto, Wijaya and a few others might be touring the US to market the game.

It's awesome that they can promote such an event. That'll certainly help with the profile of the game in the U.S. Now if an event like this can be staged in Canada, that would be a shot in the arm for the game. Wishful thinking?

Here is the content, taken from the link..
noticed the name i've put in bold...
this is news to me..there is no news yet out of PBSI(Indonesia), but hmmm, what does this mean??is this just purely special trip/vacation for candra wijaya(as i've heard him mentioning he might come back to U.S. again)??...anyone wonder why he will be there??..
and i don't really want to bring this topic back again, but remember all those talks in this BC forum, after the World Championship this past August??...

From: clbp@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:37 am
Subject: World Badminton Showdown in Mowtown? asian_dude
Offline
Send Email

The copy of the email below has been forwarded to us. The event is
still being planned but it makes for good badminton in the Midwest!

[Thanks to Iwanto Teng for the info!]

-- CLBP Moderators

----

From: Richard Teo/SCI/DCC/DCX
Date: 09/20/2005 04:09PM
Subject: Motown showdown 2006

On behalf of Richard Teo, Lilly Feng and Joe
Barbario I am excited to announce that next years
Northville Open will be a tournament you will NOT
WANT TO MISS.....

Did any of you miss the world championships in CA
this year? Have no fear... the champs are coming
to Detroit...

Everything from last years tournament will still
be the same only thing is PRIZES will be BIGGER
AND BETTER and we're also having an event called
"World Badminton Showdown in Mowtown." This event
will feature, World Champions Tony Gunawan and
Howard Bach, as well as ex-world champions Halim
Heryanto, Candra Wijaya and USA superstar Kevin
Han.

1.QUESTION: How did SHOWDOWN in MOTOWN get started?

ANSWER: I recently got off the phone talking to
Kevin Han and he was extremely interested in
helping to promote the game of badminton here in
Michigan. Me, Lilly Feng, Richard Teo, and Joe
Barbario are partnering up with Kevin Han to
bring this event here in the Northville Open. The
exciting news is Kevin Han, Howard Bach, Tony
Gunawan, Halim Heryanto and Candra are expected
to sign a contract next week stating for sure
that they will come during the Northville Open.
Kevin will be calling me tomorrow to give me the
exact that date that they will be coming.

2.QUESTION: Who else is expected to come?

ANSWER: Nothing is set yet with the ladies... We
are also trying to get Bang Soo Hyun of South
Korea (1992 silver medalist, 1996 Gold medalist
in Olympics women singles), Etty Tantri (Tony's
wife who was a world class player) and Ye
Zhoahing (China's women singles former 2 time
world champion). Those are in the works at the
moment...

3. QUESTION: How will this be paid for? Where is
the money coming from?

ANSWER: All proceeds from the Michigan Open will
go to the funding as well as sponsors who will
help promote this event....

Before Motown Showdown, Bach, Han, Gunawan,
Heryanto and Wijiya will be stopping by the Ann
Arbor badminton club to hit a few birds, play a
couple pick up games with local players, and
possibly try to tour a couple other clubs in
Metro Detroit Area. If you are a leader of any
club, please email me and if you're interested in
getting some of these players to visit your club
write me a email.


THIS EVENT IS FREE... FREE TO WATCH, if you're
entering in the tournament it's NOT FREE and it
will be held at exactly the same time as the
tournament.

Friday night, we will have the sr. and open mens
singles... Saturday's schedule will be different.
Open and sr. doubles will still go on but at
3:00 PM the Showdown in Motown will start... The
IDEA of this event will sort of be like Sudirman
Cup style. There will be two teams playing for
the MICHIGAN CUP! Teams consist of:

This roster is not totally set, but this is the
ideal roster according to Kevin Han and I.

RED:
Coach: Tom Camichael
Tony Gunawan
Howard Bach
Raju Rai (Currently number 1 singles player in US)
Etty Tantri (possibly)

BLUE:
Coach: Martin Barnes
Halim Heryanto
Candra Wijya
Kevin Han
Bang Soo Hyun (possibly)

Matches:

Singles: Kevin Han VS Raju Rai
Women's singles: Etty Tantri VS Bang Soo Hyun
Mens doubles: Howard Bach and Tony Gunawan VS Halim Heryanto and
Candra Wijaya
Mix doubles: Raju Rai and Etty Tantri VS Candra Wijaya and Bang Soo Hyun

Tie breaker: Tony Gunawan vs Halim Heryanto

None of the superstars will be playing in the
tournament, but after they compete for the
Michigan Cup they will spend the next 2 to 3
hours playing pick up games with anyone who
participates in the tournament in the other
Northville gym which is down the hall from
the main gym. That's right.... if you want to
play mens singles against Tony Gunawan or mens
doubles against Tony Gunawan and Howard Bach this
your chance. Any of the 8 superstars will love
to play any pick up games....

It doesn't get better than this.... than having
the 8 ELITE WORLD CLASS players here in
Northville.

Within a week or two we will announce the set
date for this tournament so you can mark on your
calendar.

Thanks,

Dan



Found this while browsing the Net.

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/clbp/message/420

Looks like Han, Bach, Guwanan, Heranyto, Wijaya and a few others might be touring the US to market the game.