FORMER Malaysian badminton star Ong Ewe Hock is determined to become a champion at the 2027 BWF Senior World Championships, even as he focuses on developing his club and academy to discover new badminton talents for Malaysia.
The 53-year-old revealed his ambitions during an interview on the Bang Med Show on TV (Astro Arena) on Monday.
At last month’s 2025 BWF World Senior Championships in Pattaya, Ewe Hock clinched a bronze medal in the men’s doubles (above 50 category) with partner Goh Cheng Huan. Another Malaysian pair, Kah Kok Cheong and Lum Chee Meng, also won bronze.
Indonesian shuttlers dominated the final, with Adi Ariyadi–Eko Hamiseno taking gold and Hariyanto Arbi–Marleve Mainaky settling for silver.
Ewe Hock said he was invited by Thai contemporary Boonsak Ponsana to compete in the tournament, where he also played in the mixed doubles, reaching the quarter-finals.
The championships, featuring players aged 35 to over 80, drew 1,700 participants from 53 nations. Medals were presented by BWF president Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul of Thailand and other dignitaries.
As a member of Malaysia’s victorious 1998 Commonwealth Games badminton team and a two-time Malaysian Open champion (1996 and 2001), Ewe Hock knows what it takes to be a winner.
“It’s all about hard work and determination,” he said. “This is the advice I usually give to young players who dream of becoming champions — there’s no shortcut, only sacrifice and effort.”
Reflecting on his early years, Ewe Hock said he felt quite aimless after his mother died in an accident when he was 13. It was his elder brother, Ewe Chye, who encouraged him to tag along to the badminton courts as a “ball picker.”
Picking up shuttlecocks, observing players, and sparring whenever he could eventually sparked his passion for the sport. By 15, he was training seriously at courts owned by the late Datuk Eddy Choong. His dedication earned him school and state titles in Penang, paving the way for selection to the national team.
“In the national team, I trained hard. I was up at 5am for jogging before our 8am sessions. I used to look at my seniors driving Mercedes-Benz cars and told myself I wanted one too — it motivated me to push harder,” recalled Ewe Hock, who hails from Tanjung Bungah.
Among his career highlights were appearances in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 Thomas Cup finals, though Malaysia fell to Indonesia on all three occasions.
“We almost won the Thomas Cup in 2002 in Guangzhou. We led 2-1 but eventually lost 2-3 to Indonesia. It was the saddest moment for me and the team. We just needed one more point,” he said, recalling the heartbreak.
Another standout memory was the 1998 All England final, where he was the top seed. Though he lost to China’s Sun Jun in the final, he defeated several top names — Hariyanto Arbi, Hendrawan, and Peter Gade — along the way.
“That tournament holds sweet memories for me. The final was on my birthday, March 14, and I had to overcome many tough opponents to get there,” he said.
Throughout his career, Ewe Hock trained under renowned coaches such as Yang Yang, Han Jian, Misbun Sidek, Morten Frost, Park Joo-bong, and the late Indra Gunawan, whom he credits for having the greatest influence on his development.
However, his career was abruptly halted in 2002 after a suspension for criticising the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) while ranked World No. 2.
“I retired three months after that. For 10 years, I stayed away from badminton. I was disappointed and focused on business and golf instead,” he said, lamenting the politics in sport.
It was former Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin who persuaded him to return to badminton. Since then, he has set up his own club to nurture young talents and provide opportunities for players who have been dropped from the national setup.
In Penang, he also organises the Piala Ong Ewe Hock redONE Tournament, which held its third edition this year, attracting several former top players from Indonesia and Thailand.
Having claimed a bronze medal at the BWF Senior World Championships, Ewe Hock says he still has the hunger to compete and eyes a golden finish in two years.
Story by K.H. Ong