LEGENDARY Malaysian badminton player Datuk Teh Kew San, 91, will display his collection of trophies and medals to the public at the Penang Badminton Association’s (PBA) 100th anniversary exhibition.
The event will be held on Nov22 at the Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre, offering fans a rare opportunity to glimpse Teh’s decorated badminton career during his heyday.
A proud Penangite, Kew San is best remembered for captaining Malaysia’s victorious 1967 Thomas Cup team and for his outstanding performances on the world stage.
PBA president Datuk Kah Kau Kiak hailed Kew San as a national hero who inspired many, especially during challenging times in the country’s sporting history.
“In an era when resources were limited, Teh made Malaysia proud with his determination and global success. His fighting spirit is something young athletes can emulate,” he said.
Kah also thanked Kew San for allowing his personal collection to be showcased, noting that many items will be shown to the public for the first time.
In addition to Kew San’s memorabilia, the exhibition will also feature trophies and medals from other top Malaysian players, including Datuk Wira Lee Chong Wei, Chan Peng Soon, and Goh Jin Wei. The association is also reaching out to more legends to expand their display.
Kah said Teh’s badminton career began in 1955 and spanned over a decade.
He played in four Thomas Cup tournaments and won major international titles across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
In 1960, he won the Mexico City International singles title and later the 1962 Asian Championship. He teamed up with Lim Sai Hup in men’s doubles to win several major tournaments, including the All England and US Open in 1959.
In mixed doubles, Kew San partnered with Ng Mei Ling, to win the 1962 Malaya Open and 1965 Malaysian Championship. The duo later married.
Beyond badminton, Kew San was also a multi-talented athlete who represented the Penang state in cricket, Penang Island Municipal Council (now Penang Island City Council) in football, Chinese Recreation Club in hockey and Methodist Boys School in basketball.
Story by Edmund Lee