The Tony Gunawan Factor

**badMania** · 11-17-2005, 06:06 AM

Wow..wow...no matter whom he is paired with, he seems to be able to create a major upset. Paired with the unheralded Howard Bach, they created the most unlikely upset by beating Candra/Sigit to become world champion.

This week, he pairs up with Taiwanese's double expert, Cheng Wen-Hsing and created probably the biggest upset in the Chinese Taipei Open. They beat the soon to be world no 1, Lee Jae Jin/Lee Hyo Jung in 3 sets: 15-10, 10-15, 15-8

I believe no one here would expect such a result...and in my earlier post, I had written "if Lee/Lee does not win in Taipei, something would be wrong!" Now, I have to eat my word

Its simply unbelieavable because this is the first time Tony is paired up with the Taiwanese girl, with Tuesday's being their first day at training and Wednesday's first round being their first match!! In just their second match together, they defeated one of the best mixed doubles pair in the world.

If I am to nominate the world's best double player, Tony Gunawan is without a question the one !

**MarkinJapan** · 11-17-2005, 06:19 AM

Makes you think what would have happened if he would have stayed in IND.

***Mag*** · 11-17-2005, 06:26 AM

Yeah, in two years so from now he would have been an ex-badminton player without no education.

**seven** · 11-17-2005, 06:53 AM

Tony Gunawan is a pure genius !!!!!!!!!

**tutu_h** · 11-17-2005, 07:02 AM

too bad my dream pair Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan split up. otherwise they will create the History of being World No.1 for the longest time as well as having the highest point ever collected since they pair up. well, only iiiiiifffff they're to be together.

**harimau** · 11-17-2005, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by badMania

Wow..wow...no matter whom he is paired with, he seems to be able to create a major upset. Paired with the unheralded Howard Bach, they created the most unlikely upset by beating Candra/Sigit to become world champion.

This week, he pairs up with Taiwanese's double expert, Cheng Wen-Hsing and created probably the biggest upset in the Chinese Taipei Open. They beat the soon to be world no 1, Lee Jae Jin/Lee Hyo Jung in 3 sets: 15-10, 10-15, 15-8

I believe no one here would expect such a result...and in my earlier post, I had written "if Lee/Lee does not win in Taipei, something would be wrong!" Now, I have to eat my word

Its simply unbelieavable because this is the first time Tony is paired up with the Taiwanese girl, with Tuesday's being their first day at training and Wednesday's first round being their first match!! In just their second match together, they defeated one of the best mixed doubles pair in the world.

If I am to nominate the world's best double player, Tony Gunawan is without a question the one !

PERHAPS YOU COULD ALSO PUT IT INTO THE CONTACT OF "THE FEAR FACTOR" TOWARD HIS OPPONENTS ........ ESP WHEN HE IS AT THE NET !!! HE IS VERY LETHAL .....

**event** · 11-17-2005, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by tutu_h

too bad my dream pair Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan split up. otherwise they will create the History of being World No.1 for the longest time as well as having the highest point ever collected since they pair up.

I felt this way, too. I remember watching them in the 2000 Olympics. Amazing. In Sunday's match in Guangzhou, Candra and Sigit won but you could see the tension between them with Sigit getting on Candra's case about errors and loose shots. All I remember seeing in Sidney is confidence and determination. Sigit is a brilliant player but the partnership just doesn't seem as solid as the Tony/Candra pairing was.

**cooler** · 11-17-2005, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Mag

Yeah, in two years so from now he would have been an ex-badminton player without no education.

plus that tony wouldn't be as happy because he would likely pull away from badminton (mentally) on family matters. I think by being in the US, tony can extend his badminton career longer than if he had stayed in INA. Some people thinks that tony is like a machine, keep producing results independent of what his goals and ambition. By staying in INA, he would be just another badminton slave to PBSI.

**badMania** · 11-17-2005, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by cooler

plus that tony wouldn't be as happy because he would likely pull away from badminton (mentally) on family matters. I think by being in the US, tony can extend his badminton career longer than if he had stayed in INA. Some people thinks that tony is like a machine, keep producing results independent of what his goals and ambition. By staying in INA, he would be just another badminton slave to PBSI.

I personally think its a good for Tony and Halim to remain in the U.S. This way, they can actually promote the sport to the public over there. So, they can pursue his studies and play the sports that they like at the same time. Not to mention the thrill of winning again, this time as the underdogs (since their ranking is low). Killing three birds with one stone

I am happy to see them scoring the unlikely upsets.

**cooler** · 11-17-2005, 10:57 AM

all top pros have ability to can achieve great results from any tournaments, the difference of winning and losing is the desire to win (mental).
take taufik for example, if he is good enough to win the WC and Olympic in, why can't he win other tournaments in more a consistent fashion? Say if taufik leave INA to a foreign country, would u say he should have stay in INA because he can bring back more WC, all england, and olympic medals for INA?

**badMania** · 11-17-2005, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by cooler

all top pros have ability to can achieve great results from any tournaments, the difference of winning and losing is the desire to win (mental).
take taufik for example, if he is good enough to win the WC and Olympic in, why can't he win other tournaments in more a consistent fashion? Say if taufik leave INA to a foreign country, would u say he should have stay in INA because he can bring back more WC, all england, and olympic medals for INA?

A few years ago, he was on the verge of joining Singapore because Mulyo Handoyo (his coach) was already signed by the Singapore Badminton Association. However, he later changed his mind and returned back to Indo.

I personally dislike Taufik, especially before last year. No doubt, he's arguably the most talented player in the circuit, however, he was too moody and arrogant to be a good professional and role model for young badminton players. It was only starting last year that we see some changes in his personality. Still, he chooses which tournament he wants to win at ("angin-anginan" in Indonesian). Like this year China Open, he was "injured" and didn't even bother to turn up even though he was already signed up.

**Qidong** · 11-17-2005, 12:59 PM

I kept feeling that Tony was living under the shadow of Ricky/Rexy, Sigit/Chandra when he was in Indonesia. He might be considered only the 5th best double player in Indonesia. He teamed up with Chandra only when Sigit was on probation. But coming to US do him better because he can prove himself as the real #1 double player not even in Indonesia but also in the world. I won't take away anything from Howard because in WC final he was not intimated by Sigit/Chandra and able trading shots and shots against the 2 legends from Indonesia. By playing with a talented but in-experenced Howard and winning the WC, Tony is definitely the best double player right now.

**w3wmfhe** · 11-17-2005, 01:31 PM

Tony isn't just the best double player right now...i do believe he is one of the greastest double player in badminton history. no matter whom he is pairing up..it come with good result. even with the taiwanese girl for the first time . Kim might be one of the best mix double player..not men's double ..when he split up in 1998 and team up with Yong ..the result isn't that good. i am agreed that he was living in the shadow of candra/sigit in INDO..in ppl's mind ..candra and sigit consider the best pair after ricky/rexy..now tony approve he is the best . or the greatest double player in the world

**cooler** · 11-17-2005, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by w3wmfhe

Tony isn't just the best double player right now...i do believe he is one of the best double player in badminton history. no matter whom he is pairing up..it come with good result. even with the taiwanese girl for the first time . Kim might be one of the best mix double player..not men's double ..when he split up in 1998 and team up with Yong ..the result isn't that good. i am agreed that he was living in the shadow of candra/sigit in INDO..in ppl's mind ..candra and sigit consider the best pair after ricky/rexy..now tony approve he is the best . or the greatest double player in the world

it also prove that candra/tony pair isnt the only winning formula for INA (ie, stop crying over it like

we lost tony

) since tony can do really well with most other partners.

**DinkAlot** · 11-17-2005, 01:49 PM

Tony rules!

**KeepinItClean** · 11-17-2005, 02:10 PM

Tony Gunawan rox!!

**tino4** · 11-18-2005, 02:44 AM

Originally Posted by Qidong

I kept feeling that Tony was living under the shadow of Ricky/Rexy, Sigit/Chandra when he was in Indonesia. He might be considered only the 5th best double player in Indonesia. He teamed up with Chandra only when Sigit was on probation. But coming to US do him better because he can prove himself as the real #1 double player not even in Indonesia but also in the world. I won't take away anything from Howard because in WC final he was not intimated by Sigit/Chandra and able trading shots and shots against the 2 legends from Indonesia. By playing with a talented but in-experenced Howard and winning the WC, Tony is definitely the best double player right now.

tony was also paired with rexy and they won some tournaments, like Asien Games or Asia Cup and also won the key point for INA at thomas cup 2000..