Dato' Datuk (or its variant Dato or Datu) is a Malay title commonly used in Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia, as well as a traditional title by Minangkabau people in West Sumatra, Indonesia. The title of the wife of Datuk is Datin. Origin The oldes ...

Ng Boon Bee (; 17 December 1937 – 3 August 2022) was a Malaysian

badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per side) and "doubles" (with two players p ...

player who excelled from the 1960s through the early 1970s. His success in doubles earned him recognition as one of greatest doubles players in badminton history.

Early life

Boon Bee started to play badminton when he was ten years inspired by his badminton-playing father. His first success in badminton came in 1955 when he became Perak schoolboy champ in the singles and doubles. A year later, he won the Perak junior. He also excelled in all types of sports beside badminton such as athletics,

tennis Tennis is a racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball ...

rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby league: 13 players per side *** Masters Rugby League *** Mod league *** Rugby league nines *** Rugby league sevens *** Touch (sport) *** Wheelchair rugby league ** Rugby union: 1 ...

, and playing

association football Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...

at the national level. It was some time in 1961 that he finally decided to concentrate on badminton.

Career

During the 1960s, Boon Bee and his partner,

Tan Yee Khan Malay titles#Dato', Dato' Tan Yee Khan (; born 24 September 1940) is a former Malaysian badminton player who represented his country in badminton events around the world during the 1960s. Career Though capable of high level singles (he won ...

formed one of the most successful men's doubles teams of the decade, winning most of the sport's biggest titles including the coveted All England, Asian Games and

Asian Championships An Asian Championship is a top level international sports competition between Asian athletes or sports teams representing their respective countries or professional sports clubs. List of Championships (Summer Olympic Sports) ;Aquatics * Asia ...

. Known for his quickness, power, and anticipation, Boon Bee was a member of the Malaysian squad that won the 1967

Thomas Cup The Thomas Cup, sometimes called the World Men's Team Championships, is an international badminton competition among teams representing member nations of the Badminton World Federation (BWF), the sport's global governing body. The championships ha ...

, in a 6–3 controversial victory over Indonesia at the Istora Senayan Stadium. After Yee Khan retired in 1969, Boon Bee formed a successful partnership with

Punch Gunalan Datuk Punch Gunalan (4 February 1944 – 15 August 2012) was a Malaysian badminton player, who achieved success in both singles and doubles competitions. Badminton career Gunalan was a talented right-hander who spent what might have been som ...

. One of their biggest achievements was beating Indonesia's combination of

Rudy Hartono Rudy Hartono Kurniawan (born Nio Hap Liang (); 18 August 1949) is an Indonesian former badminton player holding the record of winning the men's singles title at the All-England Championship eight times, seven times consecutively from 1968 to 1974 ...

/ Indra Gunawan in the 1971 All-England final. There were other accomplishments too, including winning the 1970 Bangkok Asian Games and 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.

Achievements

Olympic Games (demonstration)

''Men's doubles''

Asian Games

''Men's doubles'' ''Mixed doubles''

Asian Championships

''Men's doubles''

Southeast Asian Peninsular Games

''Men's doubles'' ''Mixed doubles''

Commonwealth Games

''Men's doubles''

International tournaments

''Men's doubles'' ''Mixed doubles''

Awards

* 1968 Malaysia's Sportsman of the Year * He was inducted into the World

Badminton Hall of Fame The Badminton Hall of Fame honors players who have shown exceptional skill at badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common form ...

in 1998. * Olympic Council of Malaysia's (OCM) Hall of Fame 2015.

Honours

* : ** Member of the

Order of the Defender of the Realm The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm ( ms, Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara) is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara' (By the Grace ...

(A.M.N.) (1972) * : ** MY-NEG Grand Order of Tuanku Jaafar - DPTJ

Knight Commander of the

Grand Order of Tuanku Ja’afar Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor * Grand Mixer DXT, American turntablist * Grand Puba (born 1966), American rapper Places * Grand, Oklahoma * Grand, Vosges, village and co ...

(D.P.T.J.) – Dato' (2008)

Personal life and death

Boon Bee is the third child from five siblings. He was married to Tong Yee Cheng. Together they had 2 children – Gillian and Thomas. Thomas was named after the prestigious Thomas Cup. On 3 August 2022, he died at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital due to

aneurysm An aneurysm is an outward bulging, likened to a bubble or balloon, caused by a localized, abnormal, weak spot on a blood vessel wall. Aneurysms may be a result of a hereditary condition or an acquired disease. Aneurysms can also be a nidus ( ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ng, Boon Bee 1937 births 2022 deaths Malaysian sportspeople of Chinese descent Malaysian male badminton players People from Ipoh Olympic badminton players of Malaysia Badminton players at the 1972 Summer Olympics Commonwealth Games medallists in badminton Badminton players at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Badminton players at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Malaysia Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Malaysia Asian Games medalists in badminton Badminton players at the 1962 Asian Games Badminton players at the 1966 Asian Games Badminton players at the 1970 Asian Games Asian Games gold medalists for Malaysia Asian Games silver medalists for Malaysia Asian Games bronze medalists for Malaysia Medalists at the 1962 Asian Games Medalists at the 1966 Asian Games Medalists at the 1970 Asian Games Southeast Asian Games medalists in badminton Southeast Asian Games gold medalists for Malaysia Southeast Asian Games silver medalists for Malaysia Members of the Order of the Defender of the Realm Competitors at the 1961 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games