Love this History tag. If anyone wants to read about Malaysian Badminton History go to Singapore Nat Library website and scour the old ST articles I have found out so many stories. I love history, but due to lack of space I would just touch on a few names to remember these people. AS Samuel won several Malaya Open championship. Married a badminton champion (she was Chinese descent) . Went on tour in Europe and won several tournaments in the late 30s. Didnt Win AE. Then we have Wong Peng Soon, Eddy Choong and brother Ong Poh Lin just to name a few. In the late 50s and early 60s, Oon CT was quite formidable but lacked support from our BA. Ng Boon Bee was a school boy in 1957 playing singles in the boys section of Malaya open. In 1959, a Billy Ng beat the great Thing Hien Hiow in the junior Malaya Open. So did Tan Yee Khan. Incidentally, the ST sport writer said Two Tan Joe Hocks wouldnt be able to beat Thing in a few years. The Juniors, Yee Khan and a few others went on a tour in Indonesia early 60s. Their behavior so appalled the chaperone from our BA that he recommended they be punished. Dont know what happened after that. Punch was more of a doubles player than singles. Malaysia played China (which is actually a closet Indonesia vs Malaysia match) in a friendly in 73, Thing and How trashed our singles made up of Aik Mong and Gunalan. Only our Doubles saved us the blushes. After that we only have Saw Swee Leong, Phua Ah Hua, James Selvaraj and gang to give us some shiok sendiri in 76 Thomas Cup beating much fancied Denmark. After that we went down hill until the Sideks appeared.
we might not be a badminton powerhouse as in indonesia or china.. but we can produce an eddy choong and a lee chong wei and thats power enough for me...
Ng Boon Bee Malaya Vs Burma (1957 Merdeka Cup '' Pesta Bola Merdeka '' ) Malaya '' Pesta Bola Merdeka '' (1958)
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