Wong Peng Soon

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Wong Peng Soon, Script error: No such module "If empty". Script error: No such module "If empty". (Template:Zh; 17 February 1917 – 22 May 1996) was a Malayan/Singaporean badminton player who reigned as a top player in Malaya from the 1930s to the 1950s when it was a single nation. Noted for his smooth but powerful strokes and graceful footwork,[1][2] he won the singles title seven times in Singapore and eight times in Malaya during this period, as well as being the top player in the All England, the Danish Open, the Indian and Philippines championships to name a few.

Acknowledged as one of the greatest badminton players of all time,[3][4] he won the All England singles title four times in only five attempts and dominated the Thomas Cup in the late 1940s to the mid 1950s as a member of the Malayan teams.[3] Wong's great rival during his career was his contemporary Ong Poh Lim.[5]

Early life

Wong was born into a large and wealthy family in Johor Bahru, Malaya. He was the seventh son of Mr Wong Ah Yam and Madam Mak Qui Tong. His granduncle is Wong Ah Fook,[6] who was a good friend of Sultan Abu Bakar and was the contractor responsible for the construction of Istana Besar. Wong has nine brothers and seven sisters. Of his siblings, five brothers and a sister were also prominent Johore badminton players.[7] The family stayed in a mansion at Jalan Ah Siang, Johor Bahru.

Badminton career

Having grown up in a family with a love for badminton, Wong started playing the sport since young. His career began when he joined Mayflower Badminton Party[8] in Singapore as a teenager, and went on to win numerous club and interstate competitions. He excelled in the singles event and quickly rose to become a household name in Singapore and Malaya.

In 1938, Wong won his first Singapore Open singles title and went on to win the tournament six more times in 1939, 1941, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1951.[3] In addition to his singles success, he also secured four men's doubles titles in 1938 with Chan Chim Bock,[9] in 1947 with Wong Chong Teck,[10] and in 1948 and 1949 with Teoh Peng Hooi.[11][12] Additionally, he teamed up with his sister, Waileen Wong to claim three mixed doubles titles in 1939,[13] 1948[14] and 1949.[15] With a total of 14 combined titles, Wong was the second most successful male shuttler in the competition's history, trailing only behind rival, Ong Poh Lim.

Wong captured his first two Malaysia Open singles titles in 1940[16] and 1941[17] before a hiatus due to World War II interrupted his career until 1947, when he reclaimed the crown.[18] He then went on an impressive streak, winning five consecutive titles from 1949 to 1953.[19] His eight Malaysian singles titles were also a long-standing international circuit record jointly held by the legendary Rudy Hartono (eight-time All England champion) and Morten Frost (eight-time Denmark Open champion) till it was surpassed by Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia in 2013.[20] Wong also triumphed in three mixed doubles events in 1937 and 1938 with his sister, Waileen Wong,[21][22] and in 1940 with Lee Chee Neo.[16]

In 1950, he became the first Asian to win the All-England men's singles championship, and won the title again in 1951, 1952, and 1955, earning him an international reputation as the "Great Wong".[23][24] He was also a member of the victorious Malayan Thomas Cup teams of 1949, 1952, and 1955,[25] serving as captain of the last.[26][27] His achievements in 1955 were remarkable because he was 38 years old at the time, an age by which most badminton players were considered past their prime.[28]

Wong also won the Surrey Open men's doubles title alongside Englishman Noel Radford,[29] and both the men's singles and doubles titles at the Scotland championships, again with Radford in 1950.[30] Additionally, he claimed the Denmark Open men's singles title in 1951,[31] and triumphed in the Bombay Open men's singles and doubles events with Abdullah Piruz in the same year.[32][33] Wong also secured the men's singles title at the Selangor Open,[34] along with winning both the men's singles and doubles titles at the Philippines Open with Cheong Hock Leng in 1952.[35]

Wong retired from competitive badminton after the 1955 Thomas Cup.[36] He became a badminton coach for the Singapore Youth Sports Centre.[37] He also coached the Malayan team in its bid to retain the Thomas Cup in 1958, when Malaya lost the title to Indonesia.[38] Wong later took up coaching stints in Thailand, Canada, India and Japan, as well as at the Haarlem Badminton Club of Holland in 1966.[39]

Professionalism

Wong was an advocate of strong work ethic, physical fitness, and mental preparation. He will cycle from Johor to Singapore just for training even though it was many kilometers away.[6][40] He was a disciplinarian who adhered to a routine of rigorous training that included sessions of skipping lasting more than an hour.[41] Wong always studied his opponents before playing against them.[3] He was renowned for maintaining a strict diet and he never stayed out late in the evening.[3][40] He was also known for his meticulous care of his equipment, often going to the extent of personally stringing and fixing his own rackets.[3][42]

Personal life

Wong married Doreen Poi Chim Neo at a church in Seremban on 3 August 1947[43] and moved to Singapore shortly after.[3] They lived at a single-storey home in Jalan Jarak, Seletar Hills[40] and had two daughters and a son.[3]

In 1981, Wong suffered a stroke which left him partially paralysed. Although he regained mobility, his health slowly declined thereafter.[44]

Death

Wong died on 22 May 1996 at Toa Payoh Hospital, Singapore, at the age of 79, due to pneumonia.[45] His wake was attended by the officials from Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) as well as then Minister for Community Development, Abdullah Tarmugi.[46] A one-hour Mass was also held at the Church of St Vincent de Paul where Wong had worshipped. More than 150 relatives and friends gathered to bid a final farewell to Wong at the Mount Vernon Crematorium where he was cremated.[47]

Honours and awards

In the 1956 New Year Honours, Wong's contribution to the sport was recognised when he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) "for services to sport in the Federation of Malaya".[48][49] In 1962, he made local history as the first and still the only sportsperson to date to be awarded the Sijil Kemuliaan (Certificate of Honour) by the Government of Singapore.[50]

In 1985, the International Badminton Federation (IBF) awarded Wong the Distinguished Services Award for his services to the sport.[51][52] In 1986, Wong was inducted into the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) Sports Museum Hall of Fame.[53]

Three years after his death, the International Badminton Federation (IBF) inducted him into its Hall of Fame posthumously in May 1999.[54] Then chairman of the IBF, H R Ward, commented, that "Wong was one of the most remarkable players" and "had enhanced the sport through exceptional achievements". In a Straits Times poll of 2000, Wong was voted as Singapore's "Sports Personality of the Century".[55] The Olympic Council of Malaysia inducted Wong into its Hall of Fame in 2004.[56]

Achievements

Tournaments

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result Ref
1938 Malaysia Open Template:Flagicon Tan Chong Tee 2–15, 15–9, 11–15 Script error: No such module "sort". Runner-up [22]
1938 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Seah Eng Hee 7–15, 15–10, 15–3 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [57]
1939 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon S. A. Durai 15–6, 15–11 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [58]
1940 Malaysia Open Template:Flagicon Ooi Teik Hock 15–1, 15–7 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [16]
1941 Malaysia Open Template:Flagicon S. A. Durai 15–3, 15–3 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [17]
1941 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Yap Chin Tee 15–10, 5–15, 15–11 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [59]
1947 Malaysia Open Template:Flagicon Lim Kee Fong 15–8, 15–12 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [18]
1947 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Ismail Marjan 15–9, 15–6 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [60]
1948 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Ong Poh Lim 15–9, 15–11 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [61]
1949 Malaysia Open Template:Flagicon Ooi Teik Hock 15–6, 15–10 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [62]
1949 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Loong Pan Yap 15–3, 15–4 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [63]
1950 All England Template:Flagicon Poul Holm 15–7, 15-10 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [64]
1950 Malaysia Open Template:Flagicon Ooi Teik Hock 15–13, 15–4 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [65]
1950 North Scotland Open Template:Flagicon Noel Radford 15–4, 15–5 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [30]
1950 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Cheong Hock Leng 5–15, 15–9, 12–15 Script error: No such module "sort". Runner-up [66]
1951 All England Template:Flagicon Ong Poh Lim 15–18, 18–14, 15–7 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [67]
1951 Bombay Open Template:Flagicon Devinder Mohan 15–11, 15–4 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [32]
1951 Denmark Open Template:Flagicon Eddy Choong 15–8, 15–5 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [68]
1951 French Open Template:Flagicon Ong Poh Lim 9–15, 8–15 Script error: No such module "sort". Runner-up [69]
1951 Malaysia Open Template:Flagicon Law Teik Hock 15–3, 15–6 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [70]
1951 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Ong Poh Lim 18–13, 15–8 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [71]
1952 All England Template:Flagicon Eddy Choong 15–11, 18–13 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [72]
1952 Malaysia Open Template:Flagicon Abdullah Priuz 15–8, retired Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [73]
1952 Philippines Open Template:Flagicon Cheong Hock Leng 15–3, 15–3 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [35]
1952 Selangor Open Template:Flagicon Cheong Hock Leng 15–2, 15–3 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [34]
1953 Malaysia Open Template:Flagicon Lim Koon Yam 15–5, 15–3 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [74]
1954 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Ong Poh Lim 15–9, 10–15, 16–17 Script error: No such module "sort". Runner-up [75]
1955 All England Template:Flagicon Eddy Choong 15–7, 14–17, 15–10 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [76]
1955 Manchester Open Template:Flagicon Eddy Choong 8–15, 5–15 Script error: No such module "sort". Runner-up [77]
1955 Selangor Open Template:Flagicon Eddy Choong 7–15, 15–7, 16–17 Script error: No such module "sort". Runner-up [78]

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result Ref
1936 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Chan Chim Bock Template:Flagicon Seah Eng Hee
Template:Flagicon Tan Chong Tee 		21–16, 21–23, 13–21 Script error: No such module "sort". Runner-up [79]
1937 Malaysia Open Template:Flagicon Chan Chim Bock Template:Flagicon A. S. Samuel
Template:Flagicon Chan Kon Leong 		23–20, 18–21, 15–21 Script error: No such module "sort". Runner-up [80]
1937 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Chan Chim Bock Template:Flagicon Seah Eng Hee
Template:Flagicon Tan Chong Tee 		21–4, 22–23, 20–24 Script error: No such module "sort". Runner-up [81]
1938 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Chan Chim Bock Template:Flagicon Wee Boon Hai
Template:Flagicon Wong Chong Teck 		16–21, 21–8, 21–17 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [9]
1939 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Wong Peng Nam Template:Flagicon Wee Boon Hai
Template:Flagicon Wong Chong Teck 		7–21, 21–8, 15–21 Script error: No such module "sort". Runner-up [82]
1941 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Wong Peng Nam Template:Flagicon Wee Boon Hai
Template:Flagicon Wong Chong Teck 		9–21, 11–21 Script error: No such module "sort". Runner-up [59]
1947 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Wong Chong Teck Template:Flagicon George Chen
Template:Flagicon Yap Chin Tee 		17–14, 15–6 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [10]
1948 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Teoh Peng Hooi Template:Flagicon Ong Poh Lim
Template:Flagicon Tan Chong Tee 		15–8, 17–15 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [11]
1949 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Teoh Peng Hooi Template:Flagicon Sng Haw Pah
Template:Flagicon Quek Keng Chuan 		15–8, 15–4 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [12]
1950 North Scotland Open Template:Flagicon Noel Radford Template:Flagicon D. Green
Template:Flagicon T. Majury 		15–8, 15–9 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [30]
1950 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Teoh Peng Hooi Template:Flagicon Ismail Marjan
Template:Flagicon Ong Poh Lim 		12–15, 9–15 Script error: No such module "sort". Runner-up [83]
1950 Surrey Open Template:Flagicon Noel Radford Template:Flagicon H. J. Wingfield
Template:Flagicon W. C. Shute 		15–8, 15–2 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [29]
1951 Bombay Open Template:Flagicon Abdullah Priuz Template:Flagicon Devinder Mohan
Template:Flagicon Henry Ferreira 		15–12, 15–9 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [33]
1951 Hull Open Template:Flagicon Noel Radford Template:Flagicon Ismail Marjan
Template:Flagicon Ong Poh Lim 		16–18, 12–15 Script error: No such module "sort". Runner-up [84]
1951 Surrey Open Template:Flagicon Noel Radford Template:Flagicon Ismail Marjan
Template:Flagicon Ong Poh Lim 		2–15, 12–15 Script error: No such module "sort". Runner-up [85]
1952 Philippines Open Template:Flagicon Cheong Hock Leng Template:Flagicon Francisco Santos
Template:Flagicon M. Yanga 		15–5, 15–2 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [35]
1954 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Teoh Peng Hooi Template:Flagicon Ismail Marjan
Template:Flagicon Ong Poh Lim 		6–15, 10–15 Script error: No such module "sort". Runner-up [86]

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result Ref
1937 Malaysia Open Template:Flagicon Waileen Wong Template:Flagicon Koh Keng Siang
Template:Flagicon Alice Pennefather 		21–11, 21–12 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [80]
1938 Malaysia Open Template:Flagicon Waileen Wong Template:Flagicon A. S. Samuel
Template:Flagicon Ida Lim 		20–23, 21–11, 21–7 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [22]
1939 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Waileen Wong Template:Flagicon Tan Chong Tee
Template:Flagicon Lee Shao Meng 		21–12, 21–3 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [13]
1940 Malaysia Open Template:Flagicon Lee Chee Neo Template:Flagicon Ooi Teik Hock
Template:Flagicon Cecilia Chan 		15–9, 15–11 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [16]
1948 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Waileen Wong Template:Flagicon Ong Poh Lim
Template:Flagicon Helen Heng 		15–5, 15–8 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [14]
1949 Singapore Open Template:Flagicon Waileen Wong Template:Flagicon Quek Keng Chuan
Template:Flagicon Ong Heng Kwee 		15–3, 15–6 Script error: No such module "sort". Winner [15]

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Pat Davis, The Guinness Book of Badminton (Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlatives Ltd., 1983) 159.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ a b Leo Suryadinata ed., Southeast Asian Personalities Of Chinese Descent: A Biographical Dictionary (ISEAS, Singapore, 2012) 1286 - 1288.
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Suk-wai Cheong, Sound Of Memories, The: Recordings From The Oral History Centre, Singapore (National Archives Singapore & World Scientific, Singapore, 2019) 218 - 219.
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ United Kingdom list: Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  62. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  63. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  64. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  65. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  66. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  67. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  68. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  69. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  70. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  71. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  72. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  73. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  74. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  75. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  76. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  77. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  78. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  79. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  80. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  81. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  82. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  83. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  84. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  85. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  86. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Template:Footer Thomas Cup Champions Badminton Team Men Template:Footer All England Open Championships Badminton Singles Men Template:Badminton Hall of Fame members

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