Eddy Choong

Template:Short description Template:Family name hatnote Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Short descriptionTemplate:Template other Template:Chinese Dato' Choong Ewe Beng Template:Post-nominals (29 May 1931 – 28 January 2013) was a Malaysian badminton player. He was David Choong's brother and they played men's doubles together.

Early life

Choong Ewe Beng, also known as Eddy, was born on 29 May 1931, and was the third son of a wealthy family in Penang. His parents were named Dato' Choong Eng Hai and Datin Ho Guat Im.

Choong first went to primary and secondary school in Penang before moving to England at the turn of the 1950s to study law and medicine. His passion for the sport quickly eclipsed his studies and Eddy later said his studies were “long forgotten”.

In the UK, Eddie was much attracted to the Jim Russell School of racing driving and enrolled, but parental pressure forced him to re-think his priorities. However, his passion for driving took him to other aspects of motor sports, and when back on Penang, he revelled in grass track, hill climbs and karting. He was extremely active in introducing the "Penang Karting Grand Prix" in Georgetown, which attracted karters from all over the Far East.

In 1966, with the All-England men's Singles and Doubles titles being won by Malaysians, an exhibition match was arranged at the Georgetown Chinese Girls' High School, with the pinnacle match being between the then current doubles champions, Ng Boon Bee and Tan Yee Khan, and Tan Aik Huang and Eddie Choong.

Career

Measuring at , Eddy was smaller than most of his European competitors but he made up for the height difference with endless energy and amazing acrobatic jumps that triggered a running gag about Eddy hiding springs in his shoes. Eddy was considered to be one of the first athletes to do a jump smash. His trademark shot was known as the “Airborne Kill”.

He won hundreds of regional titles and over 65 international titles in all three disciplines from 1949 to 1966. Eddy won many of these titles partnering his brother, David Choong, and his cousin, Amy Choong. Thirty of his international titles were gained from 1951 to 1953.

Choong won the men's singles at the All England Open Badminton Championships four times between 1953 and 1957 when it was considered the unofficial world championship of the sport. He also reached the All-England singles final in 1952 and 1955 and won the men's doubles with his brother in 1951, 1952, and 1953. He was a member of the 1955 Malayan Thomas Cup (men's international) team which retained the world team championship, and the 1958 team which surrendered the title to Indonesia

After retirement

Eddy settled in his native Penang for his retirement. After badminton, he bred dogs and raced fast cars and go-karts. He was a good driver and made a name for himself in motor racing after winning many titles from 1967 to 1982. Eddy was also the chairman of the Hock Hin Brothers Group which was his family business in real estate and housing development. Additionally, Eddy was involved at a high level in kennel associations in Malaysia.

In 1995, Eddy became the vice-president of the Penang Badminton Association and chairman of the Badminton Association of Malaysia Technical Advisory Panel. He focused on developing badminton in his native Penang. Choong used his own money to convert a family factory into Penang's first indoor badminton stadium. He later invested 1.5 million MYR to build the Penang International Badminton Hall. It opened in 1992.

Racial issues

Eddy was also a strong promoter of racial equality. Partially due to bad experiences during his childhood, Eddy was sensitive to racial issues. Eddy saw his performances in badminton as a way of showing that all races can be equally good at sport.

At the 1956 All England, he refused to attend the traditional celebration dinner because he felt the organisers treated him unfairly due to racial discrimination. On another occasion, Jørn Skaarup of Denmark gave away a match to Choong in which he felt the Malaysian was treated unfairly. Skaarup earned Choong's respect and friendship with his fair play.

Personal life

In 1959, Eddy married Maggie Thean Sun Lin. Together, they had 4 sons – Finn, Lionel, Antonio and Jorgen. His eldest son, Finn, and third son, Jorgen, were named after Eddy's longtime badminton rivals and friends, Finn Kobero and Jorgen Hamergard Hansan, respectively.

Death

Eddy died on 28 January 2013 at the age of 82.

Awards

In 1994, Eddy won the Herbert Scheele award and was inducted into the IBF Hall of Fame in 1997.

Eddy made such an influence on the game that the IBF named an award after him: The Eddie Choong Player of the Year. This award was given to players who achieved exceptional results during a given year. Peter Gade was the first player to win this award in 1998. In 2008, the award was renamed the Eddie Choong Most Promising Player of the Year and given to the player who showed to be the most promising during a calendar year.

Honours

• Penang :
  • File:MY-PEN Order of the Defender of State - Officer - DSPN.svg Officer of the Order of the Defender of State (D.S.P.N.) – Dato' (1996)

Achievements

Asian Games

Mixed doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1966	Kittikachorn Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand	Template:Flagicon Tan Gaik Bee	Template:Flagicon Teh Kew San Template:Flagicon Rosalind Singha Ang	13–18, 15–11, 5–15	Silver Silver

International tournaments (54 titles, 23 runners-up)

Men's singles

Year	Tournament	Opponent	Score	Result
1951	Denmark Open	Template:Flagicon Wong Peng Soon	8–15, 5–15	Runner-up
1951	Scottish Open	Template:Flagicon Frank Peard	15–11, 15–6	Winner
1951	Irish International	Template:Flagicon Cheong Hock Leng	15–5, 15–12	Winner
1952	Scottish Open	Template:Flagicon Johnny Heah	11–15, 8–15	Runner-up
1952	Irish International	Template:Flagicon Johnny Heah	15–7, 15–11	Winner
1952	All England	Template:Flagicon Wong Peng Soon	11–15, 13–18	Runner-up
1952	French Open	Template:Flagicon David Choong	15–5, 15–8	Winner
1953	Scottish Open	Template:Flagicon Frank Peard	15–12, 15–10	Winner
1953	Irish International	Template:Flagicon John D. McColl	15–2, 15–0	Winner
1953	All England	Template:Flagicon Johnny Heah	15–4, 15–4	Winner
1953	Denmark Open	Template:Flagicon Finn Kobberø	15–3, 15–7	Winner
1953	French Open	Template:Flagicon David Choong	15–3, 15–7	Winner
1954	Dutch Open	Template:Flagicon Jørn Skaarup	15–9, 15–10	Winner
1954	All England	Template:Flagicon Donald Smythe	15–5, 15–6	Winner
1954	U.S. Open	Template:Flagicon Joe Alston	15–5, 2–15, 15–13	Winner
1954	Norwegian International	Template:Flagicon David Choong	15–5, 15–6	Winner
1955	Dutch Open	Template:Flagicon Ole Mertz	15–5, 15–0	Winner
1955	German Open	Template:Flagicon David Choong	15–3, 9–15, 18–13	Winner
1955	All England	Template:Flagicon Wong Peng Soon	7–15, 17–14, 10–15	Runner-up
1955	U.S. Open	Template:Flagicon Joe Alston	5–15, 8–15	Runner-up
1956	Swiss Open	Template:Flagicon David Choong	15–7, 15–1	Winner
1956	German Open	Template:Flagicon Ferry Sonneville	15–6, 15–0	Winner
1956	All England	Template:Flagicon Finn Kobberø	11–15, 15–3, 15–11	Winner
1957	Scottish Open	Template:Flagicon Oon Chong Teik	15–5, 15–8	Winner
1957	Irish International	Template:Flagicon Oon Chong Teik	15–7, 15–12	Winner
1957	Dutch Open	Template:Flagicon Oon Chong Teik	15–8, 15–2	Winner
1957	All England	Template:Flagicon Erland Kops	15–9, 15–3	Winner
1957	German Open	Template:Flagicon Ferry Sonneville	15–12, 15–12	Winner
1957	Malaysia Open	Template:Flagicon Abdullah Piruz	15–6, 15–3	Winner
1957	U.S. Open	Template:Flagicon Finn Kobberø	10–15, 15–2, 4–15	Runner-up
1960	Malaysia Open	Template:Flagicon Eddy Yusuf	15–13, 15–9	Winner

Men's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1951	Scottish Open	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Frank Peard Template:Flagicon Jim FitzGibbon	15–12, 15–4	Winner
1951	All England	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Ong Poh Lim Template:Flagicon Ismail Marjan	9–15, 15–7, 15–10	Winner
1951	French Open	Template:Flagicon Cheong Hock Leng	Template:Flagicon Ong Poh Lim Template:Flagicon Ismail Marjan	7–15, 7–15	Runner-up
1952	Scottish Open	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Robert Hodge Template:Flagicon Wilfred Robinson	15–5, 15–1	Winner
1952	All England	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Poul Holm Template:Flagicon Ole Jensen	9–15, 15–12, 15–7	Winner
1952	Irish International	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Johnny Heah Template:Flagicon Jim FitzGibbon	15–11, 15–5	Winner
1952	French Open	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Henri Pellizza Template:Flagicon Paul Ailloud	15–2, 15–5	Winner
1953	Scottish Open	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Frank Peard Template:Flagicon Jim FitzGibbon	15–12, 15–12	Winner
1953	Irish International	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Frank Peard Template:Flagicon Jim FitzGibbon	15–8, 15–3	Winner
1953	All England	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Poul Holm Template:Flagicon Ole Jensen	15–5, 15–12	Winner
1953	Denmark Open	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Poul Holm Template:Flagicon Ole Jensen	15–6, 15–9	Winner
1953	French Open	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Peter Birtwistle Template:Flagicon S. L. Jaini	15–9, 15–6	Winner
1954	All England	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Ong Poh Lim Template:Flagicon Ooi Teik Hock	16–18, 12–15	Runner-up
1954	U.S. Open	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Ong Poh Lim Template:Flagicon Ooi Teik Hock	1–15, 4–15	Runner-up
1954	Norwegian International	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Leif Jensen Template:Flagicon Benny Andersen	15–2, 15–0	Winner
1955	Dutch Open	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon A. Lillelund Template:Flagicon Ole Mertz	15–8, 15–3	Winner
1955	German Open	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Erland Olsen Template:Flagicon Niels Buchholst	15–2, 15–2	Winner
1955	All England	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Finn Kobberø Template:Flagicon Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen	9–15, 17–14, 11–15	Runner-up
1955	U.S. Open	Template:Flagicon T. Darryl Thompson	Template:Flagicon Joe Alston Template:Flagicon Wynn Rogers	6–15, 15–12, 8–15	Runner-up
1956	Swiss Open	Template:Flagicon Robert Lim	Template:Flagicon David Choong Template:Flagicon Richard Lee	16–18, 13–15	Runner-up
1957	Scottish Open	Template:Flagicon Oon Chong Teik	Template:Flagicon Frank Peard Template:Flagicon Jim FitzGibbon	15–0, 15–12	Winner
1957	Irish International	Template:Flagicon Oon Chong Teik	Template:Flagicon John Best Template:Flagicon Tony Jordan	15–7, 15–8	Winner
1957	Dutch Open	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon John Timperley Template:Flagicon Hugh Findlay	18–15, 15–18, 15–2	Winner
1957	All England	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Joe Alston Template:Flagicon Johnny Heah	10–15, 17–16, 5–15	Runner-up
1957	German Open	Template:Flagicon David Choong	Template:Flagicon Ferry Sonneville Template:Flagicon Arne Rasmussen	15–9, 17–18, 15–9	Winner
1957	U.S. Open	Template:Flagicon Bert Fergus	Template:Flagicon Finn Kobberø Template:Flagicon Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen	12–15, 2–15	Runner-up
1959	Malaysia Open	Template:Flagicon Erland Kops	Template:Flagicon Teh Kew San Template:Flagicon Lim Say Hup	11–15, 9–15	Runner-up
1966	Malaysia Open	Template:Flagicon Tan Aik Huang	Template:Flagicon Sangob Rattanusorn Template:Flagicon Chavalert Chumkum	17–14, 15–12	Winner
1966	Singapore Open	Template:Flagicon Yew Cheng Hoe	Template:Flagicon Tan Yee Khan Template:Flagicon Khor Cheng Chye	15–13, 8–15, 15–2	Winner

Mixed doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1949	Malaysia Open	Template:Flagicon Amy Choong	Template:Flagicon Chan Kon Leong Template:Flagicon Valentine Chan	15–9, 11–15, 15–7	Winner
1951	Irish International	Template:Flagicon Amy Choong	Template:Flagicon Frank Peard Template:Flagicon Queenie Webber	15–9, 15–6	Winner
1951	French Open	Template:Flagicon Queenie Webber	Template:Flagicon Cheong Hock Leng Template:Flagicon Audrey Stone	15–7, 15–7	Winner
1952	French Open	Template:Flagicon Queenie Webber	Template:Flagicon David Choong Template:Flagicon Mimi Wyatt	12–15, 15–1, 15–11	Winner
1953	Scottish Open	Template:Flagicon Dorothy Donaldson	Template:Flagicon David Choong Template:Flagicon Nancy Horner	3–15, 7–15	Runner-up
1953	Irish International	Template:Flagicon June White	Template:Flagicon David Choong Template:Flagicon Iris Cooley	15–6, 15–6	Winner
1953	Denmark Open	Template:Flagicon Agnete Friis	Template:Flagicon David Choong Template:Flagicon Inger Kjærgaard	18–17, 15–5	Winner
1953	French Open	Template:Flagicon Jenifer Peters	Template:Flagicon Peter Birtwistle Template:Flagicon Betty Grace	15–8, 15–5	Winner
1955	German Open	Template:Flagicon Hanne Jensen	Template:Flagicon David Choong Template:Flagicon Annelise Hansen	3–15, 9–15	Runner-up
1957	Dutch Open	Template:Flagicon Hanne Jensen	Template:Flagicon Hugh Findlay Template:Flagicon Barbara Carpenter	12–15, 15–7, 15–1	Winner
1957	German Open	Template:Flagicon Barbara Carpenter	Template:Flagicon Erland Kops Template:Flagicon Agnete Friis	6–15, 10–15	Runner-up
1957	Malaysia Open	Template:Flagicon Lim Kit Lin	Template:Flagicon Lim Say Hup Template:Flagicon Tan Gaik Bee	3–15, 15–6, 12–15	Runner-up
1963	Malaysia Open	Template:Flagicon Tan Gaik Bee	Template:Flagicon Bobby Chee Template:Flagicon Ewe Choon Ghee	4–15, 15–4, 15–6	Winner
1965	Malaysia Open	Template:Flagicon Rosalind Singha Ang	Template:Flagicon Teh Kew San Template:Flagicon Ng Mei Ling	10–15, 7–15	Runner-up
1966	Penang Open	Template:Flagicon Rosalind Singha Ang	Template:Flagicon Abdul Patah Unang Template:Flagicon Minarni	13–15, 9–15	Runner-up
1966	Perak Open	Template:Flagicon Minarni	Template:Flagicon Tan Yee Khan Template:Flagicon Retno Koestijah	9–15, 11–15	Runner-up
1966	Singapore Open	Template:Flagicon Lim Choo Eng	Template:Flagicon Billy Ng Template:Flagicon Sylvia Ng	15–17 retired	Runner-up

Summary

Rank	Event	Date	Tournament
Open Championships
1	Men's singles Men's doubles	1953, 1954, 1956, 1957 1951, 1952, 1953	All England
1	Men's singles Men's doubles Mixed doubles	1953 1953 1953	Denmark Open
1	Men's singles Men's doubles Mixed doubles	1954, 1955, 1957 1955, 1957 1957	Dutch Open
1	Men's singles Men's doubles Mixed doubles	1952, 1953 1952, 1953 1951, 1952, 1953	French Open
1	Men's singles Men's doubles	1955, 1956 1955	German Open
1	Men's singles Men's doubles Mixed doubles	1951, 1952, 1953, 1957 1952, 1953, 1957 1951, 1953	Irish International
1	Men's singles Men's doubles Mixed doubles	1957, 1960 1966 1949, 1963	Malaysia Open
1	Men's singles Men's doubles	1954 1954	Norwegian International
1	Men's singles Men's doubles	1951, 1953, 1957 1951, 1952, 1953, 1957	Scottish Open
1	Men's doubles	1966	Singapore Open
1	Men's singles	1956	Swiss Open
1	Men's singles	1954	US Open
1	Men's singles Men's doubles	1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956 1950, 1954	Wimbledon International
2	Men's singles Men's doubles	1952, 1955 1954, 1955, 1957	All England

Sources

• Eddy Choong - MSN Encarta( Template:Webarchive 2009-10-31)
• Eddy Choong, Fred Brundle: Badminton. Foyles Handbooks, London, Foyle, 1955
• Eddy Choong, Fred Brundle: The Phoenix Book of Badminton – Its history, the development of the shuttlecock, the diversity of style and tactics, and the badminton world of today, London, Phoenix Sports Books, 1956