Dato' Choong Ewe Beng DSPN (29 May 1931 – 28 January 2013) was a Malaysian badminton player. He was David Choong's brother and they played men's doubles together.

Eddy Choong
庄友明
Choong, circa 1953
Personal information
Birth nameChoong Ewe Beng
CountryMalaya
Malaysia
Born(1931-05-29)29 May 1931
Penang, British Malaya
Died28 January 2013(2013-01-28) (aged 81)
George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Height1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
HandednessRight
EventMen's singles, men's and mixed doubles
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  Malaya
Thomas Cup
Gold medal – first place 1955 Singapore Team
Silver medal – second place 1958 Singapore Team
Representing  Malaysia
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 1966 Bangkok Mixed doubles
Silver medal – second place 1966 Bangkok Men's team
Eddy Choong
Traditional Chinese莊友明
Simplified Chinese庄友明
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhuāng You Míng
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingZong1 Jau5 Ming4
Southern Min
Hokkien POJChng Iú-bêng

Early life

edit

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”.[1]

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

edit

Measuring at 1.62 metres (5 ft 4 in), 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”.[2]

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.[2]

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.[3] 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[4]

After retirement

edit

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.[citation needed] 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

edit

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.[2]

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.[2]

Personal life

edit

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.[citation needed]

Death

edit

Eddy died on 28 January 2013 at the age of 82.[5]

Awards

edit

In 1994, Eddy won the Herbert Scheele award and was inducted into the IBF Hall of Fame in 1997.[6]

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.[citation needed]

Honours

edit

Achievements

edit
Rank Event Date Tournament
Open Championships
1 Men's singles
Men's doubles
Mixed doubles
1954, 1955, 1957
1955, 1957
1957
Dutch 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
1951, 1953
Irish International
1 Mixed doubles 1949 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 singles 1954 US Open
1 Men's singles
Men's doubles
1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956
1950, 1954
Wimbledon International

Asian Games

edit

Mixed doubles

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

International tournaments

edit

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1951 Denmark Open   Wong Peng Soon 8–15, 5–15   Runner-up
1952 All England   Wong Peng Soon 11–15, 13–18   Runner-up
1952 French Open   David Choong 15–5, 15–8   Winner
1953 All England   Johnny Heah 15–4, 15–4   Winner
1953 Denmark Open   Finn Kobberø 15–3, 15–7   Winner
1953 French Open   David Choong 15–3, 15–7   Winner
1954 All England   Donald Smythe 15–5, 15–6   Winner
1955 All England   Wong Peng Soon 7–15, 17–14, 10–15   Runner-up
1956 All England   Finn Kobberø 11–15, 15–3, 15–11   Winner
1957 All England   Erland Kops 15–9, 15–3   Winner
1957 German Open   Ferry Sonneville 15–12, 15–12   Winner
1957 Malaysia Open   Winner
1960 Malaysia Open   Winner

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1951 All England   David Choong   Ong Poh Lim
  Ismail Marjan
9–15, 15–7, 15–10   Winner
1951 French Open   Cheong Hock Leng   Ong Poh Lim
  Ismail Marjan
7–15, 7–15   Runner-up
1952 All England   David Choong   Poul Holm
  Ole Jensen
9–15, 15–12, 15–7   Winner
1952 French Open   David Choong   Henri Pellizza
  Paul Ailloud
15–2, 15–5   Winner
1953 All England   David Choong   Poul Holm
  Ole Jensen
15–5, 15–12   Winner
1953 Denmark Open   David Choong   Poul Holm
  Ole Jensen
15–6, 15–9   Winner
1953 French Open   David Choong   Peter Birtwistle
  S. L. Jaini
  Winner
1954 All England   David Choong   Ong Poh Lim
  Ooi Teik Hock
16–18, 12–15   Runner-up
1955 All England   David Choong   Finn Kobberø
  Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen
9–15, 17–14, 11–15   Runner-up
1957 All England   David Choong   Joe Alston
  Johnny Heah
10–15, 17–16, 5–15   Runner-up
1957 German Open   David Choong   Ferry Sonneville
  Arne Rasmussen
15–9, 17–18, 15–9   Winner
1959 Malaysia Open   Erland Kops   Teh Kew San
  Lim Say Hup
11–15, 9–15   Runner-up
1966 Malaysia Open   Tan Aik Huang   Sangob Rattanusorn
  Chavalert Chumkum
17–14, 15–12   Winner
1966 Singapore Open   Yew Cheng Hoe   Tan Yee Khan
  Khor Cheng Chye
15–13, 8–15, 15–2   Winner

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1951 French Open   Queenie Webber   Cheong Hock Leng
  Audrey Stone
15–7, 15–7   Winner
1952 French Open   Queenie Webber   David Choong
  Mimi Wyatt
12–15, 15–1, 15–11   Winner
1953 Denmark Open   Agnete Friis   David Choong
  Inger Kjærgaard
18–17, 15–5   Winner
1953 French Open   Jenifer Peters   Peter Birtwistle
  Betty Grace
  Winner
1957 German Open   Barbara Carpenter   Erland Kops
  Agnete Friis
6–15, 10–15   Runner-up
1963 Malaysia Open   Tan Gaik Bee   Bobby Chee
  Ewe Choon Ghee
4–15, 15–4, 15–6   Winner
1966 Penang Open   Rosalind Singha Ang   Abdul Patah Unang
  Minarni
  Runner-up
1966 Perak Open   Minarni   Tan Yee Khan
  Retno Koestijah
9–15, 11–15   Runner-up

References

edit
  1. ^ "Interview with Eddy Choong". Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "Eddy Choong | BWF Virtual Museum".
  3. ^ Herbert Scheele ed., The International Badminton Federation Handbook for 1971 (Canterbury, Kent, England: J. A. Jennings Ltd., 1971) 163.
  4. ^ Scheele, 75, 76, 84.
  5. ^ "Badminton legend Eddy Choong dies ⋆ The Malaysian Times". themalaysiantimes.com.my. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  6. ^ "BWF Hall of fame members". Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.

Sources

edit
  • Eddy Choong - MSN Encarta( Archived 2 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine 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