Badminton legend Ng Boon Bee dies

 

Legendary badminton player Ng Boon Bee died at the age of 84.

Ng breathed his last at Ipoh Hospital in Perak at 4pm today. He leaves behind his wife, Tong Yee Cheng, 85, and a daughter Gillian.

His son Thomas, 54, who was named after Thomas Cup, died last year.

Taking to social media, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) extended condolences to the family members of the former doubles player who secured the first Thomas Cup title for the country in 1967.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of the legendary doubles player.

"Ng formed one of the most dominant Men’s Doubles pairs of the 1960s and arguably of the century alongside Tan Yee Khan," said BAM.

According to Ng’s wife, he had complained of severe stomach pains when the family was leaving home for a trip to Penang.

"Ng was very happy this morning. We had breakfast and before we could leave, he clutched his stomach, saying there was a sharp pain,” Tong was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.

The family was told by the hospital that Ng died from an aneurysm.

The Perak native started to play badminton at the age of 10, inspired by his father.

Ng's badminton career began in the early 1960s as he partnered with Tan and won Men’s Doubles titles in both the Asian Games in 1962 and1966, as well as All England in 1965 and 1966.

He also clinched a record-breaking six titles at the Malaysian Open in 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967 and 1968.

One of Ng's greatest feats was to lead Malaysia to the Thomas Cup victory in 1967.

Upon Tan’s retirement, Ng formed a lethal partnership with Punch Gunalan to win numerous tournaments such as the 1970 Asian Games and the 1971 All England.

He was also crowned Malaysia's Sportsman of the Year in 1968. - Mkini