When Malaysia’s badminton royalty met King and Queen
Tan Yee Khan (in wheelchair), Yew Cheng Hoe, Tan Aik Huang and Billy Ng with the royal couple. (Istana Negara pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: Two lovely unscripted moments at Istana Negara last Friday captured the spirit of a convivial interaction between the King and Queen and four badminton greats.
The first freeze-frame moment occurred when Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah pushed former doubles specialist Tan Yee Khan in a wheelchair.
Sporting a big smile, he spontaneously led Yee Khan to a photography session with three other heroes of the victorious 1967 Thomas Cup team.
“It was something I could never have dreamed of and something you will never ever forget,” said Yee Khan, who is unable to walk due to diabetic foot ulcer.
The other excitement came when Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah handed out fruit cakes she had baked to Yee Khan, Yew Cheng Hoe, Tan Aik Huang and Billy Ng.
“We were moved by the Queen’s gesture to specially bake a fruit cake for each of us for Chinese Lunar New Year,” said Billy, 82.
The royal couple had invited the legends to a tea party and a tour of the palace to honour them for their priceless service to Malaysian sport.
Captain Teh Kew San, who turns 88 on Jan 26, could not attend due to health reasons while Yee Khan’s partner Ng Boon Bee had died last August at the age of 84.
KUALA LUMPUR: Two lovely unscripted moments at Istana Negara last Friday captured the spirit of a convivial interaction between the King and Queen and four badminton greats.
The first freeze-frame moment occurred when Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah pushed former doubles specialist Tan Yee Khan in a wheelchair.
Sporting a big smile, he spontaneously led Yee Khan to a photography session with three other heroes of the victorious 1967 Thomas Cup team.
“It was something I could never have dreamed of and something you will never ever forget,” said Yee Khan, who is unable to walk due to diabetic foot ulcer.
The other excitement came when Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah handed out fruit cakes she had baked to Yee Khan, Yew Cheng Hoe, Tan Aik Huang and Billy Ng.
“We were moved by the Queen’s gesture to specially bake a fruit cake for each of us for Chinese Lunar New Year,” said Billy, 82.
The royal couple had invited the legends to a tea party and a tour of the palace to honour them for their priceless service to Malaysian sport.
Captain Teh Kew San, who turns 88 on Jan 26, could not attend due to health reasons while Yee Khan’s partner Ng Boon Bee had died last August at the age of 84.
The 1967 Thomas Cup champions (from left) Yew Cheng Hoe, Tan Aik Huang, Teh Kew San, then BAM president Khir Johari, Ng Boon Bee, Tan Yee Khan and Billy Ng. (Facebook pic)
Sultan Abdullah had read an article about the sacrifices made by the Thomas Cup ’67 team, and how the players had to endure the hostile fans at the infamous Istora Senayan in Jakarta before winning the title.
In one of the greatest badminton dramas, Malaysia controversially beat their arch-rivals Indonesia 6-3, two years after the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation (1963-1965) ended.
The Agong spoke to veteran sports journalists George Das, Lazarus Rokk, Fauzi Omar and Johnson Fernandez about it, and he felt that these players deserved more recognition for their victory.
Das said: “He asked us for their contacts and the next thing we knew, he had invited the players to the palace for tea with the King and Queen.”
He said he was also pleasantly surprised to be invited for the event along with Rokk, Fauzi, Fernandez and former Bernama editor-in-chief Yong Soo Heong.
“It was a great royal gesture from our Agong to entertain some of our forgotten sports heroes.”
Sultan Abdullah said: “It was a pleasure meeting the legends whom I didn’t know about as I was still in primary school then.
“Further, I am not familiar with badminton as I am a football and hockey man.
“But on learning about the sacrifices the Thomas Cup ‘67 squad had made and the hostile circumstances they had to undergo before winning the Thomas Cup, I have the greatest of respect for them.
“I would like to thank them, including the family of the late Boon Bee, for their phenomenal contribution to the country at that time.”
Sultan Abdullah said he was also pleased to meet with Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sylvia Ng, pioneer Uber Cupper Jean Moey, and James Selvaraj from the 1976 Thomas Cup runners-up squad.
“The nation owes a debt of gratitude to all of them, and other sportsmen and women, and officials, who have brought honour to the country,” he said.
Sultan Abdullah had read an article about the sacrifices made by the Thomas Cup ’67 team, and how the players had to endure the hostile fans at the infamous Istora Senayan in Jakarta before winning the title.
In one of the greatest badminton dramas, Malaysia controversially beat their arch-rivals Indonesia 6-3, two years after the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation (1963-1965) ended.
The Agong spoke to veteran sports journalists George Das, Lazarus Rokk, Fauzi Omar and Johnson Fernandez about it, and he felt that these players deserved more recognition for their victory.
Das said: “He asked us for their contacts and the next thing we knew, he had invited the players to the palace for tea with the King and Queen.”
He said he was also pleasantly surprised to be invited for the event along with Rokk, Fauzi, Fernandez and former Bernama editor-in-chief Yong Soo Heong.
“It was a great royal gesture from our Agong to entertain some of our forgotten sports heroes.”
Sultan Abdullah said: “It was a pleasure meeting the legends whom I didn’t know about as I was still in primary school then.
“Further, I am not familiar with badminton as I am a football and hockey man.
“But on learning about the sacrifices the Thomas Cup ‘67 squad had made and the hostile circumstances they had to undergo before winning the Thomas Cup, I have the greatest of respect for them.
“I would like to thank them, including the family of the late Boon Bee, for their phenomenal contribution to the country at that time.”
Sultan Abdullah said he was also pleased to meet with Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sylvia Ng, pioneer Uber Cupper Jean Moey, and James Selvaraj from the 1976 Thomas Cup runners-up squad.
“The nation owes a debt of gratitude to all of them, and other sportsmen and women, and officials, who have brought honour to the country,” he said.
The King positioned Tan Yee Khan in front of him after the badminton legend had lined up for the picture by his side. (Istana Negara pic)
The badminton icons, most of whom are largely unknown to the younger generation of Malaysians, were clearly touched at being part of this unexpected occasion.
Numerous stories emerged as the glorious past and capricious present raised mixed emotions at the meeting in the palace.
Cheng Hoe, 79, said Sultan Abdullah and his consort were interested to know more about every player, their success at major tournaments, about the final days in Jakarta, the current state of badminton, and what they were doing in their advanced age.
Aik Huang, 76, said: “We are very privileged to have had the opportunity to have tea with the Agong and Permaisuri Agong who were extremely gracious and friendly. I will cherish it for the rest of my life.”
The royal couple’s outpouring of affection for the badminton stars has given a fresh dimension to the treatment of sporting heroes in the country.
In displaying a high sense of caring, they have reinforced the need to jealously guard memories of momentous past achievements.
It is a timely reminder to the nation what we were then.
Will the others in the sports fraternity take a cue from the King and Queen to stir such depth of feeling toward the real heroes who did it for king and country, and not for the money?
The badminton icons, most of whom are largely unknown to the younger generation of Malaysians, were clearly touched at being part of this unexpected occasion.
Numerous stories emerged as the glorious past and capricious present raised mixed emotions at the meeting in the palace.
Cheng Hoe, 79, said Sultan Abdullah and his consort were interested to know more about every player, their success at major tournaments, about the final days in Jakarta, the current state of badminton, and what they were doing in their advanced age.
Aik Huang, 76, said: “We are very privileged to have had the opportunity to have tea with the Agong and Permaisuri Agong who were extremely gracious and friendly. I will cherish it for the rest of my life.”
The royal couple’s outpouring of affection for the badminton stars has given a fresh dimension to the treatment of sporting heroes in the country.
In displaying a high sense of caring, they have reinforced the need to jealously guard memories of momentous past achievements.
It is a timely reminder to the nation what we were then.
Will the others in the sports fraternity take a cue from the King and Queen to stir such depth of feeling toward the real heroes who did it for king and country, and not for the money?
Amazing trip down memory lane.. the surviving members of the team that brought back the Thomas Cup in 1967.
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