Ng Boon Bee Explained

Dato' Ng Boon Bee (; 17 December 1937 – 3 August 2022) was a Malaysian badminton player who excelled from the 1960s through the early 1970s. His success in doubles earned him recognition as one of greatest doubles players in badminton history.^[1]

Early life

Ng started to play badminton when he was ten years inspired by his badminton-playing father. He was the third child from five siblings. His first success in badminton came in 1955 when he became Perak schoolboy champ in the singles and doubles. A year later, he won the Perak junior. He also excelled in all types of sports beside badminton such as athletics, tennis, rugby, and playing association football at the national level. It was some time in 1961 that he finally decided to concentrate on badminton.

Career

During the 1960s, Ng and his partner, Tan Yee Khan formed one of the most successful men's doubles teams of the decade, winning most of the sport's biggest titles including the coveted All England, Asian Games and Asian Championships.^[2] Known for his quickness, power, and anticipation, Ng was a member of the Malaysian squad that won the 1967 Thomas Cup, in a 6–3 controversial victory over Indonesia at the Istora Senayan Stadium.^[3]

After Yee Khan retired in 1969, Ng formed a successful partnership with Punch Gunalan. One of their biggest achievements was beating Indonesia's combination of Rudy Hartono/Indra Gunawan in the 1971 All-England final. There were other accomplishments too, including winning the 1970 Bangkok Asian Games and 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.^[4]

Personal life

Ng was married to Tong Yee Cheng. Together they had 2 children – Gillian and Thomas. Thomas was named after the prestigious Thomas Cup.^[5]

Death

On 3 August 2022, Ng died at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital due to aneurysm.^[6]

Awards

• 1968 Malaysia's Sportsman of the Year^[7]
• He was inducted into the World Badminton Hall of Fame in 1998.^[8]
• Olympic Council of Malaysia's (OCM) Hall of Fame 2015.^[9]

Achievements

Olympic Games (demonstration)

Men's doubles

Asian Games

Men's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1962	Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia	Tan Yee Khan	Tan Joe Hock Liem Tjeng Kiang	15–13, 18–17	Gold
1966	Kittikachorn Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand	Tan Yee Khan	Ang Tjin Siang Tjoa Tjong Boan	12–15, 15–8, 18–16	Gold
1970	Kittikachorn Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand	Punch Gunalan	Junji Honma Shoichi Toganoo	5–15, 15–8, 15–7	Gold

Mixed doubles

Asian Championships

Men's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1962	Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Tan Yee Khan	Teh Kew San Lim Say Hup	15–9, 15–10	Gold
1969	Rizal Stadium, Manila, Philippines	Punch Gunalan	Ippei Kojima Yukinori Hori		Gold

Southeast Asian Peninsular Games

Men's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1961	Yangon, Myanmar	Tan Yee Khan	Narong Bhornchima Raphi Kanchanaraphi	15–8, 6–15, 15–10	Gold
1965	Selangor Badminton Hall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Tan Yee Khan	Narong Bhornchima Raphi Kanchanaraphi	15–8, 15–11	Gold
1967	Bangkok, Thailand	Tan Yee Khan	Narong Bhornchima Raphi Kanchanaraphi		Gold
1971	Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Punch Gunalan	Ng Tat Wai Ho Khim Kooi		Gold

Mixed doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1961	Yangon, Myanmar	Ng Mei Ling	Pankae Phongam Raphi Kanchanaraphi	18–14, 8–15, 9–15	Silver
1965	Selangor Badminton Hall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Teh Siew Yong	Tan Yee Khan Rosalind Singha Ang	15–11, 15–5	Gold
1967	Bangkok, Thailand	Teh Siew Yong	Chirasak Champakao Sumol Chanklum	6–15, 10–15	Bronze
1969	Yangon, Myanmar	Rosalind Singha Ang	Khaw Gaik Bee Yew Cheng Hoe		Gold
1971	Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Rosalind Singha Ang	Ng Tat Wai Teh Mei Ling		Silver

Commonwealth Games

Men's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1966	Kingston, Jamaica	Tan Yee Khan	Tan Aik Huang Yew Cheng Hoe	14–15, 5–15	Silver
1970	Edinburgh, Scotland	Punch Gunalan	Ng Tat Wai Tan Soon Hoi	15–3, 15–3	Gold

International tournaments

Men's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1963	Malaysia Open	Tan Yee Khan	Teh Kew San Lim Say Hup	14–17, 15–9, 15–7	Winner
1965	All England	Tan Yee Khan		15–7, 15–5	Winner
1966	Denmark Open	Tan Yee Khan	Tan Aik Huang Yew Cheng Hoe	15–13, 15–10	Winner
1966	All England	Tan Yee Khan	Finn Kobberø Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen	9–15, 15–9, 17–15	Winner
1966	Canadian Open	Tan Yee Khan	Svend Pri Yew Cheng Hoe	12–15, 15–1, 17–14	Winner
1966	U.S. Open	Tan Yee Khan		15–6, 15–12	Winner
1967	Singapore Open	Tan Yee Khan	Indratno Mintarja	15–3, 15–8	Winner
1967	Denmark Open	Tan Yee Khan	Svend Pri Per Walsøe	8–15, 18–16, 17–15	Winner
1967	Malaysia Open	Tan Yee Khan	Indratno Mintarja	15–9, 15–10	Winner
1968	All England	Tan Yee Khan	Henning Borch Erland Kops	6–15, 4–15	Runner-up
1968	Malaysia Open	Tan Yee Khan	Ippei Kojima Issei Nichino	11–15, 15–9, 15–9	Winner
1968	Singapore Open	Tan Yee Khan	Sangob Rattanusorn Chavalert Chumkum	15–9, 15–1	Winner
1968	German Open	Tan Yee Khan	Sangob Rattanusorn Chavalert Chumkum	15–9, 15–2	Winner
1969	U.S. Open	Punch Gunalan	Ippei Kojima Channarong Ratanaseangsuang	15–3, 15–7	Winner
1969	Singapore Pesta	Punch Gunalan	Indratno Mintarja	15–5, 15–5	Winner
1971	Poona Open	Punch Gunalan	Lee Kok Pheng Lim Shook Kong	15–4, 15–5	Winner
1971	German Open	Punch Gunalan		15–12, 15–8	Winner
1971	Denmark Open	Punch Gunalan	Rudy Hartono Indra Gunawan	11–15, 15–4, 15–8	Winner
1971	All England	Punch Gunalan	Rudy Hartono Indra Gunawan	15–5, 15–3	Winner
1971	Canada Open	Punch Gunalan	Raphi Kanchanaraphi Channarong Ratanaseangsuang	15–10, 15–11	Winner
1971	U.S. Open	Punch Gunalan		2–15, 18–13, 15–7	Winner
1972	Denmark Open	Punch Gunalan	Sangob Rattanusorn Bandid Jaiyen	15–6, 15–6	Winner
1972	German Open	Punch Gunalan		15–9, 15–12	Winner
1972	Singapore Open	Punch Gunalan	Tan Aik Huang Tan Aik Mong	11–15, retired	Runner-up

Mixed doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1967	Singapore Open	Rosalind Singha Ang	Darmadi Minarni	4–15, 5–15	Runner-up
1969	Canada Open	Retno Koestijah	Darmadi Minarni	5–15, 15–17	Runner-up
1970	Singapore Open	Sylvia Ng	Chirasak Champakao Pachara Pattabongse	15–11, 15–12	Winner
1971	Poona Open	Sylvia Ng	Joke van Beusekom Piet Ridder		Winner
1971	Canada Open	Sylvia Ng	Rolph Patterson Mimi Nilsson	15–11, 15–4	Winner
1971	Singapore Open	Sylvia Ng	Thongkam Kingmanee Bandid Jaiyen	15–6, 15–9	Winner

Honours

• :
  • Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (A.M.N.) (1972)^[10]
  • Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (PJN) – Datuk (2023)^[11]
• :
  • Knight Commander of the Grand Order of Tuanku Ja’afar (D.P.T.J.) – Dato' (2008)^[12]

Notes and References

1. Pat Davis,The Guinness Book of Badminton (Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlatives Ltd., 1983) 107.
2. Web site: Yee Khan: Good understanding the key to our success – Other Sports The Star Online. 8 July 2016.
3. Herbert Scheele ed., The International Badminton Federation Handbook for 1971 (Canterbury, Kent, England: J.A. Jennings Ltd., 1971) 78, 84.
4. Web site: Other Sport: Boon Bee recalls the joy of his partnership with Punch The Star. www.thestar.com.my. 6 May 2020.
5. Web site: Malaysian Sports' Loose Cannon: Datuk Boon Bee, finally. rizalhashim.blogspot.my. 8 July 2016.
6. Web site: Malaysian Thomas Cup legend Ng Boon Bee dies aged 84. Malay Mail. Shahrin Aizat. Noorshahrizam. 3 August 2022. 3 August 2022.
7. Web site: » Anugerah Sukan Negara Majlis Sukan Negara Malaysia National Sports Council of Malaysia. www.nsc.gov.my. 8 July 2016.
8. Web site: BWF Hall of fame members.
9. Web site: Thomas Cup teams among new inductees into OCM Hall of Fame – Badminton The Star Online. www.thestar.com.my. 8 July 2016.
10. Web site: Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat.
11. Web site: 5 June 2023 . Thomas Cup 1967 winners honoured with ‘Panglima Jasa Negara’ award carrying ‘Datuk’ title . 5 June 2023 . . en . The Borneo Post.
12. Web site: Former doubles ace Boon Bee receives Datukship. 19 July 2008. 8 July 2016. The Star.