Wong Peng Soon

Chivalric Order Member

1918 – 1996

77

Who was Wong Peng Soon?

Wong Peng Soon, MBE was an ethnic Chinese badminton player who reigned as a top player in Malaya from the 1930s to the 1950s. Noted for his smooth but powerful strokes and graceful footwork, he won the singles title seven times in Singapore and eight times in Malaya during this period, as well as being the top player in the Danish Open, the Indian Open, and the Philippines Open to name a few.

In 1950, he became the first Asian to win the All-England Championships, and won the title again in 1951, 1952, and 1955, earning him an international reputation as the "Great Wong". He was also a member of the victorious Malayan Thomas Cup teams of 1949, 1952, and 1955, serving as captain of the last.

His contribution to the sport was recognized when was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire. In 1962, he made local history as the first and still the only sportsperson to date to be awarded the Sijil Kemuliaan by the Government of Singapore.

Three years following his death in 1996, at the age of 78, due to pneumonia, the International Badminton Federation inducted him into its Hall of Fame in May 1999. Then chairman of the IBF, H R Ward, commented, that "Wong was one of the most remarkable players" and "had enhanced the sport through exceptional achievements".

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Born
1918
Nationality
  • Singapore
Died
May 22, 1996

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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