Legends set for overdue reunion in Pangkor

PETALING JAYA: Members of the 1967 Thomas Cup winning badminton team will enjoy a long overdue reunion when they gather at the Pangkor Seaview Hotel and Holiday Resort from Sept 20-21.

Former All-England doubles champion Datuk Tan Yee Khan, who manages the hotel on Pangkor Island, will celebrate his 70th birthday on Sept 21 and has invited his 1967 team-mates and past national players for the gathering.

Yee Khan said the oldest player would be 92-year-old Teoh Seng Khoon, who is the only surviving member of the 1949 Thomas Cup winning team.

Yee Khan added that his former doubles partner Datuk Ng Boon Bee and other team-mates from the successful 1967 Thomas Cup campaign – Yew Cheng Hoe, Teh Kew San, Billy Ng, Tan Aik Huang and Tan Aik Mong – would also be present.

“We have not got together for a very long time. Our team were the first to capture the Thomas Cup for Malaysia and it is one of the proudest moments of my life,” Yee Khan, who captured the All-England men’s doubles title with Boon Bee for two consecutive years from 1965.

“I am happy that my former team-mates will be present to share in the occasion.”

Others confirmed attending are former Asian Games gold medallist Datuk Punch Gunalan, Cheah Soon Kit, Razif Sidek, Rosalind Singha Ang, Ng Mei Lin and Sylvia Ng.

“Datuk James Selvaraj, who was named as the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) high performance director recently, is also coming,” said Yee Khan.

“I have discussed with him the possibility of inviting the juniors from the Bukit Jalil Sports School as well.

“It will be a good opportunity for us to share our experiences with them and, hopefully, they can learn a thing or two about how to train in the ‘champion’s way’ from us.”