PETALING JAYA: The greatest wish of a child of a legend is to see their parent’s legacy continue and inspire younger generations.
Kenneth Tan, the son of the late Datuk Tan Yee Khan, described his father not only as a great player but also as an exceptional father.
Yee Khan, 85, passed away yesterday in Ipoh of natural causes.
He leaves behind an invaluable legacy in Malaysian badminton, having been part of the 1967 Thomas Cup squad that ended a 12-year drought, and achieving numerous titles alongside the late Datuk Ng Boon Bee in the 1960s.
Although his children have chosen different paths, Yee Khan’s dedication and sacrifices continue to be deeply respected and remembered.
“To me, he’s a wonderful father. He gave me the guidance and education I needed. He sent all my sisters and all of us to England,” said Kenneth.
“All of us hold law degrees. I am a practising lawyer, my youngest sibling is also a practising lawyer, and my eldest, while not practising, also holds a law degree.
“So, he’s a great person. My only regret is that I never learned badminton. Different courts, different paths. I always tell my dad that yours is a badminton court, while mine is a court of law, and he would laugh.
“He was an exceptional player and has inspired many younger athletes. I hope his legacy continues to inspire future generations,” said Kenneth when contacted.
Even in his final days, the late Yee Khan continued to talk about and show a deep passion for badminton.
“He was always involved with badminton. It was normal – he was always talking about the sport. Even when he was in special care, he would still talk about badminton.
“He often spoke about his training and the exercises he did. The way he trained was very different from how it’s done nowadays,” he added.
Former Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) High Performance Director Datuk James Selvaraj described Yee Khan as a strict figure on the court, yet behind that tough exterior lay a caring nature that few knew about.
Yee Khan served as Malaysia’s coach in 1982 and in the same year helped sibling pair Datuk Razif Sidek and Datuk Seri Jalani Sidek win the All-England title.
“When he was a player, I was still young, but I clearly remember his performance on the court.
“He also coached the Malaysian squad in 1982. Ask Razif and Jalani themselves about how he trained them and the national team at that time.
“He was a very hard hitter and had his own methods that everyone had to follow. Nevertheless, he had a very soft heart and genuinely cared for all his players,” Selvaraj said.
