Rudy Gunawan
Encyclopedia
Rudy Gunawan (born December 31, 1966) is a former Chinese Indonesian
badminton
player who specialized in doubles. Tall, and powerfully built, he won numerous major international titles, mainly in men's doubles but also in mixed doubles, from the late 1980s through the mid 1990s.
, about eight years his junior) was member of world champion Indonesian
Thomas Cup
(men's international) teams in 1994 and 1996, winning his final round match on both occasions. He won men's doubles at the 1993 IBF World Championships
in Birmingham
, England with Ricky Subagja
. However, he shared most of his international men's doubles titles with two other fellow countyrmen, Eddy Hartono
and Bambang Suprianto
. These included the prestgious All-England title
in 1992 and 1994, the World Badminton Grand Prix
in 1990 and 1993, the Southeast Asian Games
in 1991 and 1993; as well as the Indonesia
(1989, 1992, 1995), Dutch
(1989, 1991), Singapore
(1990), Thailand
(1991, 1993), China
(1993), Chinese Taipei
(1994), and U.S.
(1995) Opens. Gunawan was a silver medalist at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona with Eddy Hartono. He also shared a number international mixed doubles titles, including victories at the Indonesia
(1990, 1993), Hong Kong
(1993), and Polish
(1993) Opens, and at the Badminton World Cup
three years running (1990, 1991, and 1992).
and San Francisco areas (relevant links below).
Chinese Indonesian
Chinese Indonesians, also called the Indonesian Chinese, are an overseas Chinese group whose ancestors emigrated from China to Indonesia, formerly a colony of the Netherlands known as the Dutch East Indies...
badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
player who specialized in doubles. Tall, and powerfully built, he won numerous major international titles, mainly in men's doubles but also in mixed doubles, from the late 1980s through the mid 1990s.
Career
Rudy Gunawan (not to be confused with fellow countryman Tony GunawanTony Gunawan
Tony Gunawan is an Indonesian born badminton player of Chinese descent.-Career:Gunawan is a former Olympic gold medalist and world champion for Indonesia, and now represents the United States. He is regarded by many, including his peers, as one of the greatest doubles players badminton's history...
, about eight years his junior) was member of world champion Indonesian
Indonesia national badminton team
The Indonesia national badminton team represents Indonesia in international badminton team competitions and is controlled by the Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia, PBSI , the governing body for badminton in Indonesia...
Thomas Cup
Thomas Cup
The Thomas Cup, sometimes called the World Men's Team Championships, is an international badminton competition among teams representing member nations of the Badminton World Federation , the sport's global governing body...
(men's international) teams in 1994 and 1996, winning his final round match on both occasions. He won men's doubles at the 1993 IBF World Championships
1993 IBF World Championships
The 8th World Badminton Championships were held in Birmingham, England in 1993.-Medalists:-Men's Singles:- Women's Singles:- Men's Doubles:- Women's Doubles:- Mixed Doubles:-Medal account:-External links:*...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England with Ricky Subagja
Ricky Subagja
Ricky Ahmad Subagja is a Bandung, Indonesia born former world-class badminton player. He rates among the greatest doubles specialists in the sport's history.-Career:...
. However, he shared most of his international men's doubles titles with two other fellow countyrmen, Eddy Hartono
Eddy Hartono
Eddy Hartono Arbie is a former Chinese Indonesian badminton player who excelled in the late 1980s and early 1990s. After a brief stint competing in singles, he soon became a doubles specialist noted for his deft racket control and fluent strokes.-Career:...
and Bambang Suprianto
Bambang Suprianto
Bambang Suprianto is a retired male badminton player from Indonesia.-Career:A durable all around player who won singles at the Singapore Open in 1991, Suprianto's greatest success came in doubles events. In the mid 1990s he and fellow countryman Rudy Gunawan formed one of the world's leading men's...
. These included the prestgious All-England title
All England Open Badminton Championships
The All England Open Badminton Championships, or simply All England, is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious badminton tournaments. Played annually, it developed after the success of world's first badminton tournament held in Guildford in 1898...
in 1992 and 1994, the World Badminton Grand Prix
World Badminton Grand Prix
The World Badminton Grand Prix was an annual badminton tournament organized by the International Badminton Federation to crown the best badminton player of the year. The tournament only invited the top eight players in the year-end world rankings. The tournament started in 1983, with the last...
in 1990 and 1993, the Southeast Asian Games
Badminton at the Southeast Asian Games
Badminton is a Southeast Asian Games event and has been one of the sports held at the Games since the inaugural edition of the South East Asian Peninsular Games in 1959.-Medal table:-Individual competition:-Team competition:-References:***...
in 1991 and 1993; as well as the Indonesia
Indonesia Open (badminton)
The Indonesia Open in an annual badminton tournament organized by Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia and held in Indonesia since 1982. It became part of the BWF Super Series tournament in 2007 and got the Premier Super Series status in 2011....
(1989, 1992, 1995), Dutch
Dutch Open (badminton)
The Dutch Open is an annual badminton tournament held in the Netherlands since 1932 and currently organized by Nederlandse Badminton Bond . It is a part of the European Badminton Circuit.-Past winners:-External links:**...
(1989, 1991), Singapore
Singapore Open (badminton)
The Singapore Open is an badminton event that has been held in Singapore annually since 1990, and which is now part of the BWF Super Series tournament that began 2007....
(1990), Thailand
Thailand Open (badminton)
The Thailand Open in badminton is an open international championships held in Thailand since 1984. It was halted in 1986, 1998, 2002 and 2010.-Past winners:-External links:***...
(1991, 1993), China
China Open (badminton)
The China Open is an annual badminton tournament held in People's Republic of China. It became part of the BWF Super Series tournaments in 2007.-Past winners:...
(1993), Chinese Taipei
Chinese Taipei Open (badminton)
The Chinese Taipei Open in badminton is an open international championships held in Taiwan since the 1970s,but they took place only in irregular periods. Since 1997 they are regularly held, unless in the 2001 edition, due to the economic crisis in Asia....
(1994), and U.S.
U.S. Open Badminton Championships
The U.S. Open Badminton Championships is an annual badminton tournament first held in 1954 when the American Badminton Association opened the U.S. National Badminton Championships to foreign competition. For the full list of winners see List of U.S. Open Badminton champions.-21st century:-External...
(1995) Opens. Gunawan was a silver medalist at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona with Eddy Hartono. He also shared a number international mixed doubles titles, including victories at the Indonesia
Indonesia Open (badminton)
The Indonesia Open in an annual badminton tournament organized by Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia and held in Indonesia since 1982. It became part of the BWF Super Series tournament in 2007 and got the Premier Super Series status in 2011....
(1990, 1993), Hong Kong
Hong Kong Open (badminton)
The Hong Kong Open is an annual badminton tournament held in Hong Kong since 1982, but it did not take place annually. It is organized by Hong Kong Badminton Association and it became one of the Super Series tournament in 2007. In 2008, Wang Chen became the first home player to win the Hong Kong...
(1993), and Polish
Polish Open (badminton)
The Polish Open in badminton is an international open held in Poland since 1975.In the years before 1990 they were one of the few meeting places of the badminton players of the Eastern Bloc countries. The tournament belongs to the EBU Circuit....
(1993) Opens, and at the Badminton World Cup
Badminton World Cup
The World Cup in badminton was an annual tournament organized by the International Management Group . It was held between 1981 and 1997. After the tournament ceased for seven years, Badminton World Federation decided to bring it back as invitational tournament in 2005...
three years running (1990, 1991, and 1992).
After badminton
Rudy Gunawan retired from competitive badminton following the 1996 season, and turned to Christian ministry work in Indonesian villages. In 1999 he went to California for study and received a B.A. degree in theology from Promise Christian University . He is currently serving as a senior pastor in both the Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and San Francisco areas (relevant links below).