Malaysian badminton is mourning the loss of former Thomas Cup-winning captain Datuk Teh Kew San, who passed away at the age of 91 in George Town.
Widely regarded as one of the country’s greatest badminton figures, Kew San played a major role in shaping Malaysia’s golden era in the sport. He was best remembered for captaining the national team to victory in the 1967 Thomas Cup, a historic achievement that remains one of Malaysia’s proudest moments in badminton.
Former teammate and badminton legend Yew Cheng Hoe described Kew San as both a mentor and inspiration. Cheng Hoe revealed that he admired Kew San from a young age and was motivated to pursue badminton after watching him represent the country. The pair later became teammates and celebrated the 1967 Thomas Cup triumph together.
Known for his tactical intelligence and smooth playing style, Kew San earned respect not through power, but through precision, discipline, and composure on court. Former teammates also remembered him as a soft-spoken leader who cared deeply for every member of the team.
Kew San enjoyed success across multiple disciplines during his career. Together with Lim Say Hup, he won the prestigious All England and World Invitational men’s doubles titles in 1959. He also captured four Malaysia Open men’s doubles titles and added two mixed doubles crowns alongside his wife, Ng Mei Ling.
His achievements extended beyond doubles competition. Kew San won the mixed doubles gold medal at the 1965 Asian Games with Rosalind Singha Ang and also claimed the Asian singles title in 1962, highlighting his versatility as one of Malaysia’s most complete badminton players.
Former international Datuk James Selvaraj recalled Kew San’s commitment during the 1967 Thomas Cup campaign, describing him as a reliable and selfless player who willingly competed in both singles and doubles whenever needed.
A wake for Kew San is being held at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in George Town until Friday, with cremation scheduled for Saturday at the Mt Erskine Crematorium.
His passing marks the end of an era for Malaysian badminton, but his achievements and influence will continue to inspire future generations of players.
