Howard Bach
Olympian

Howard Bach

Olympian 2012

    Athlete Bio

    Height

    5’ 7”

    Hometown

    San Francisco

    Event:      Men’s Doubles
    Doubles Partner: Tony Gunawan
    Height: 5’ 7”
    Weight: 165 lbs.
    Birthplace: Saigon, Vietnam
    Hometown: San Francisco, Calif.Current Residence: Orange, Calif.
    Coach: Rudy Gunawan/Zi Min Cai
    Racket: Yonex – Ti-8
    Dominant Hand: Right
     
    Olympic Games:
    2008 Olympic Games, Beijing, China
    Men’s Doubles (Bob Malaythong), Quarterfinalist
    2004 Olympic Games, Athens, Greece
    Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han), Round of 16
     
    World Championships:
    2005 World Championships, Anaheim, Calif., USA

    Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan), Gold Medal

    Pan American Games:
    2011 Pan American Games, Guadalajara, Mexico
    Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan), Gold
    Mixed Doubles (Paula Lynn Obanana), Semifinalist
    2007 Pan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    Mixed Doubles (Eva Lee), Gold Medal
    Men’s Doubles (Bob Malaythong), Silver Medal
    2003 Pan American Games, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
    Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han), Gold Medal
    1999 Pan American Games, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
    Men’s Doubles (Mark Manha), Silver Medal
     
    Personal:
    Following the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the retirement of his men’s doubles partner, Bob Malaythong, Howard Bach has reunited with fellow World Champion Tony Gunawan. Bach and Gunawan made history on August 22, 2005 when they won the gold medal in the men’s doubles competition at the World Badminton Championships in Anaheim, California, becoming the first USA Badminton athletes to ever medal at a World Championship or Olympic competition. For their historic performance, Bach and Gunawan were recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as its 2005 USOC Overall Team of the Year. In 2008, Howard Bach and his men’s double partner Bob Malaythong made it to the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games in Beijing, advancing farther in the Olympic badminton competition than any other Americans in history. Bach also competed in mixed doubles with U.S. Olympian Eva Lee.

     

    Bach is the son of Sencam and Amy Bach. He began playing badminton at the age of 7 at a local YMCA where his father played. He has four sisters, Belvia, Nancy, Myltanh “May” and Carrie. He attributes much of his success to his family and their unending support. Bach lives and trains at the Orange County Badminton Club in Orange, California. In May 2007, he graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. Along with English, he also speaks Cantonese and Mandarin. Bach also contributes to the sport of badminton through his involvement as a USA Badminton Development Foundation Coach, which is part of the USA Badminton Junior Development Program. The General Motors ‘Team Behind The Team’ Program named Bach a recipient of a Pontiac Grand Am automobile prior to the 2000 Olympic Games. He married Penelope Salac following the 2008 Olympic Games and became the father of Aison Cole Bach in July 2011. He enjoys fishing, bowling, basketball, skiing, river rafting, playing the guitar, playing video games, driving really fast remote control cars and flying kites in his spare time.

     

     

    Competition Record:

     

    2011 Results:

    2011 United States Pan American Games Badminton Team Member, Guadalajara, Mexico

    World Badminton Championships in London, England, Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan), Did not advance

    U.S. Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton Championships, Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan), Silver

    Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton Championships, Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan), Bronze

    2011 Sudirman Cup, U.S. Team Member

    U.S. National Badminton Championships, Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan), Gold

    Peru International Badminton Championships, Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan), Gold

     

    2010 Results:

    Yonex – Sunrise Hong Kong Open Super Series, Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan), Bronze

    China Open Super Series, Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan), Did not advance

    World Badminton Championships in Paris, France, Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan), Did not advance

    Yonex Canadian Open Grand Prix of Badminton, Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan) Bronze

    U.S. Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton Championships, Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan) Bronze

    Indonesia Open Super Series of Badminton, Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan), Quarterfinals

    Singapore Open Super Series of Badminton, Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan), Silver

    U.S. Adult National Championships, Men’s Doubles (Raju Rai), Gold

    U.S. Adult National Championships, Mixed Doubles (Eva Lee), Gold

     

    2009 Results:

    World Badminton Championships in Hyderabad, India, Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan), Quarterfinals

    Yonex Open Japan Super Series of Badminton, Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan), Bronze

     

    2008 Results:

    2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Men’s Doubles (Bob Malaythong), Quarterfinals

     

    2007 Results:

    Irish International Championships, Mixed Doubles (Eva Lee), Gold

    Irish International Championships, Men’s Doubles (Bob Malaythong), Gold

    U.S. Open, Mixed Doubles (Eva Lee), Silver

    U.S. Open, Men’s Doubles (Bob Malaythong), Silver

    Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Mixed Doubles (Eva Lee), Gold

    Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Men’s Doubles (Bob Malaythong), Silver

    Pan American Badminton Championships in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Mixed Doubles (Eva Lee), Gold Medal

    Pan American Badminton Championships in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Men’s Doubles (Bob Malaytong), Silver Medal

    Pan American Badminton Championships in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Team Event, Silver Medal

    U.S. Adult National Championships, Men Doubles (Bob Malaythong), Champion

    U.S. Adult National Championships, Mixed Doubles (Eva Lee), Champion

    U.S. Adult National Championships, Men Singles, Champion

     

    2006 Results:

    U.S. Open, Mixed Doubles (Eva Lee), Bronze Medal

    U.S. Adult National Championships, Men Doubles (Bob Malaythong), Champion

    Boston Open, Men’s Doubles ((Bob Malaythong), Champion

     

    2005 Results:

    USOC Team of the Year Overall Winner (with Tony Gunawan)

    World Badminton Championships in Anaheim, Calif., USA, Men’s Doubles (Tony Gunawan), Gold Medal

     

    2004 Results:

    Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han), Round of 16

     

    2003 Results:

    U.S. Open, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han), Quarter-finalist

    Pan American Games, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han), Gold Medal

    U.S. Adult National Championships, Men Doubles (Kevin Han), Finalist

    U.S. Adult National Championships, Men Singles, Champion

    Siam Cement Thailand Open, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han)

    Swiss Open, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han)

    Yonex Japan Open, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han)

    Korea Open, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han)

     

    2002 Results:

    IBF #12 Men’s Doubles (World Ranking at the end of the season – highest ever for U.S. player)

    Realkredit Denmark Open, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han), Round of 16

    OCBC/YONEX U.S. Open, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han), Finalist

    Chinese Taipei Open (5* $180,000), Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han), Quarter-finalist

    Malaysia Open, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han), Round of 16

    U.S. Adult National Championships, Men Doubles (Kevin Han), Champion

    Yonex-Sunrise Singapore Open, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han)

     

    2001 Results:

    Brazil International, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han), Champion

    Pan American Championships, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han), Champion

    Pan Am Southern Classic, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han), Champion

    U.S. Open, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han), Quarter-finalist

    World Championships, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han)

    United States Olympic Committee’s Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han) Badminton Team of the Year

     

    2000 Results:

    Waitakere International in New Zealand, Semi-finalist

    Australia Capital International, Round of 16

    Chile International, Semi-finalist

    United States Olympic Committee’s Men’s Doubles (Howard Bach) Badminton Team of the Year

     

    1999 Results:

    Guatemala International, Men’s Doubles (Mark Manha), Champion

    Jamaica International, Men’s Doubles (Mark Manha), Champion

    Brazil International, Men’s Doubles (Mark Manha), Quarter-finalist

    Argentina International, Men’s Doubles (Mark Manha), Quarter-finalist

    U.S. Open, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han), Quarter-finalist

    Pan American Games, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Men’s Double (Mark Manha), Silver Medal

    Pan American Games, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Men’s Singles, Did not medal

    U.S. Adult National Championships, Men’s Doubles (Mark Manha), Finalist

    Peru International, Men’s Doubles (Mark Manha), Champion

     

    1998 Results:

    Guatemala International, Men’s Doubles (Mark Manha), Champion

    Mexico International, Men’s Doubles (Mark Manha), Champion

    Slovenia International, Men’s Doubles (Mark Manha), Champion

    U.S. Open, Men’s Singles, Quarter-finalist

    U.S. Open, Men’s Doubles (Mark Manha), Quarter-finalist

    U.S. Adult National Championships, Men’s Doubles (Mark Manha), Finalist

    U.S. Adult National Championships, Men’s Singles, Finalist

    Southern Pan Am International, Men’s Singles, Finalist

    Southern Pan Am International, Men’s Doubles (Kevin Han), Champion

    Mid-Atlantic Classic, Men’s Singles, Champion

    Mid-Atlantic Classic, Mixed Doubles (Cindy Shi), Champion

    Philadelphia Classic, Men’s Singles, Champion

    Philadelphia Classic, Mixed Doubles, Champion

    Miami Classic, Men’s Singles, Finalist

    Mid-Atlantic Classic, Men’s Doubles, Champion

    U.S. Team Member Thomas Cup

     

    1997 Results:

    U.S. Adult National Championships, Men’s Doubles, Semi-finalist

    U.S. Adult National Championships, Men’s Singles, Semi-finalist

    Dave Freeman Classic, Men’s Doubles, Finalist

    Dave Freeman Classic, Men’s Singles, Semi-finalist

    Portland Classic, Men’s Doubles, Finalist

    Portland Classic, Men’s Singles, Finalist

    San Antonio Classic, Men’s Doubles, Champion

    San Antonio Classic, Men’s Singles, Champion

    U.S. Team Member World Championships

    U.S. Team Member Devlin Cup

    Hollyburn Junior Open, U-19 Boy’s Singles, Champion

     

    1996 Results:

    U.S. Junior Pan American Badminton Championship Team Member

    Junior World Championships, Men’s Singles, Round of 32

    U.S. Team Member Devlin Cup

    Pan American Junior Badminton Championships, U-19 Boy’s Singles, Champion

    Pan American Junior Badminton Championships, U-19 Boy’s Doubles, Finalist

    Manhattan Beach Junior Open, U-19 Boy’s Singles, Champion

    U.S. Junior National Championships, U-21 Boy’s Doubles (Stanley Wo), Champion

    U.S. Junior National Championships, U-18 Boy’s Singles, Semi-finalist

     

    1995 Results:

    U.S. Olympic Festival, Men’s Doubles (Stanley Wo), Finalist

    U.S. Junior National Championships, U-21 Boy’s Doubles (Stanley Wo), Champion

    U.S. Junior National Championships, U-18 Boy’s Singles, Champion

    Manhattan Beach Classic, Men’s Singles, Quarter-finalist

    Manhattan Beach Classic, Men’s Doubles (Marcelino Gorospe), Quarter-finalist

    Southern Classic, Men’s Singles, Quarter-finalist

    Southern Classic, Men’s Doubles (Stanley Wo), Semi-finalist

    St. Louis Classic, Men’s Singles, Quarter-finalist

    St. Louis Classic, Men’s Doubles (Stanley Wo), Quarter-finalist

    Dave Freeman Classic, Men’s Doubles (Stanley Wo), Quarter-finalist

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