Former national badminton great Teh Kew San may have been a quiet figure away from the spotlight, but his passion for badminton always shone through.
Kew San passed away on Thursday at the age of 91 after being hospitalised due to illness. A key member and captain of Malaysia’s historic 1967 Thomas Cup-winning team, he remained deeply devoted to the sport throughout his life and continued contributing to badminton well into his 80s.
Former national high-performance director James Selvaraj described Kew San as a reserved man who became animated whenever badminton entered the conversation.
“He was naturally quiet, but once badminton was mentioned, he would enthusiastically share his thoughts and advice,” said James.
Players in Penang especially enjoyed listening to Kew San’s stories and experiences, as his love for the game was unmistakable.
James also recalled watching Kew San and other national legends train ahead of the 1967 Thomas Cup campaign in Jakarta. The squad underwent rigorous preparations at the Selangor Badminton Association Hall in Kampung Attap, an experience that deeply inspired him.
“That was where my passion for badminton truly began because I had the opportunity to watch him and the rest of the Thomas Cup team train and compete,” James added.
Kew San played a major role in helping Malaysia reclaim the Thomas Cup in 1967, ending a 12-year drought since the nation’s previous triumph in Singapore in 1955. Malaysia achieved the memorable feat by defeating hosts Indonesia 6-3 in the final at Istora Senayan, Jakarta.
Today, only three members of that victorious squad remain — Tan Aik Huang, Yew Cheng Hoe and Billy Ng. Earlier this year, Tan Yee Khan passed away on Jan 28.
Beyond the Thomas Cup, Kew San also enjoyed remarkable success on the international stage. He captured the 1959 All England men’s doubles title alongside Lim Say Hup and finished runners-up the following year after losing to Denmark’s pair Finn Kobbero and Poul Erik Nielsen.
In 1962, he won the Asian men’s singles crown in Kuala Lumpur by defeating fellow Malaysian Billy Ng in the final. Kew San also partnered Ng Mei Ling in mixed doubles to win the Malaysian Open twice, in 1962 and 1965.
