Datuk Punch Gunalan (4 February 1944 – 15 August 2012) was a Malaysian badminton player who achieved success in both singles and doubles competitions.

Badminton career Gunalan was a right-hander who spent the early years of his playing career competing only sporadically as a student in England.

In the early 70s, Gunalan and his partner, Ng Boon Bee, became the leading men's doubles team in the world. They captured gold at the biennial Asian Games (1970), at the quadrennial Commonwealth Games (1970), and at the Asian Championships (1969). They captured the venerable All England title in 1971.

Though perhaps less consistent in singles than he was in doubles, Gunalan was capable of playing it at the highest level. He reached the All-England singles final in 1974, losing in three close sets to the iconic Rudy Hartono. He also helped Malaysia reach the Thomas Cup final in 1970. He is the only Malaysian to capture gold medals in both men's singles and men's doubles at the Sea Games, the Commonwealth Games, and the Asian Games.

Post-retirement After retiring as a player in 1974, Gunalan served in various stints as coach of the Malaysian team, an official in the Malaysian Badminton Association, and an official in the International Badminton Federation (now Badminton World Federation). In 1992, as team manager of the Thomas Cup together with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tan Sri Elyas Omar, Malaysia won the Thomas Cup, beating Indonesia.

Death Gunalan died on 15 August 2012 in Subang Medical Centre, Subang Jaya, after a short battle against cancer. He was 68.

Honours Malaysia: Herald of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal Family of Malaysia (BSD) (1988) Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal Family of Malaysia (PSD) – Datuk (1992)

Achievements

Olympic Games (demonstration) Men's doubles YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult 1972 Volleyballhalle, Munich, West Germany Ng Boon Bee Ade Chandra Christian Hadinata 4–15, 15–2, 11–15 Silver

Commonwealth Games Men's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1974 Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand Jamie Paulson 15–1, 15–6 Gold

Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1970 Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland Ng Boon Bee Ng Tat Wai Tan Soon Hoi 15–3, 15–3 Gold 1974 Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand Dominic Soong Bob McCoig Fraser Gow 17–18, 15–5, 15–7 Bronze

Asian Games Men's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1970 Kittikachorn Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand Muljadi 4–15, 15–3, 15–12 Gold

Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1970 Kittikachorn Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand Ng Boon Bee Junji Honma Shoichi Toganoo 5–15, 15–8, 15–7 Gold

Asian Championships Men's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1969 Rizal Stadium, Manila, Philippines Muljadi 11–15, 3–15 Silver

Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1969 Rizal Stadium, Manila, Philippines Ng Boon Bee Yukinori Hori Ippei Kojima 15–8, 5–15, 15–11 Gold

Southeast Asian Peninsular Games Men's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1969 Aung San National Indoor Stadium, Rangoon, Burma Soon Akayapisud 15–2, 15–4 Gold 1971 Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tan Aik Huang 12–15, 11–15 Silver 1973 Singapore Badminton Stadium, Singapore Tan Aik Mong 15–8, 15–11 Gold

Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1969 Aung San National Indoor Stadium, Rangoon, Burma Yew Cheng Hoe Thongchai Phongful Singha Siribanterng 15–8, 15–9 Gold 1971 Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Ng Boon Bee Ng Tat Wai Ho Khim Kooi 15–10, 15–10 Gold 1973 Singapore Badminton Stadium, Singapore Dominic Soong Sangob Rattanusorn Bandid Jaiyen 10–15, 15–18 Silver

Mixed doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1973 Singapore Badminton Stadium, Singapore Sylvia Ng Yeo Ah Seng Tan Chor Kiang 15–5, 15–6 Bronze

International tournaments Men's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 1974 All England Rudy Hartono 15–8, 9–15, 10–15 Runner-up

Men's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result1966 Dutch Open Oon Chong Hau Elo Hansen Knud Aage Nielsen 15–4, 15–4 Winner1968 Northern Indian Tan Yee Khan Rudy Hartono Indratno 15–3, 6–15, 7–15 Runner-up1969 Singapore Pesta Ng Boon Bee Indratno Mintarja 15–5, 15–5 Winner1969 U.S. Open Ng Boon Bee Ippei Kojima Channarong Ratanaseangsuang 15–3, 15–7 Winner1971 Poona Open Ng Boon Bee Lee Kok Pheng Lim Shook Kong 15–4, 15–5 Winner1971 German Open Ng Boon Bee Willi Braun Roland Maywald 15–12, 15–8 Winner1971 Denmark Open Ng Boon Bee Indra Gunawan Rudy Hartono 11–15, 15–4, 15–8 Winner1971 All England Ng Boon Bee Indra Gunawan Rudy Hartono 15–5, 15–3 Winner1971 Canadian Open Ng Boon Bee Raphi Kanchanaraphi Channarong Ratanaseangsuang 15–0, 15–11 Winner1971 U.S. Open Ng Boon Bee Don Paup Jim Poole 2–15, 18–13, 15–7 Winner1972 Denmark Open Ng Boon Bee Bandid Jaiyen Sangob Rattanusorn 15–6, 15–6 Winner1972 Poona Open Ng Boon Bee Abdul Rahman Mohamad Ng Tat Wai 10–15, 15–8, 15–8 Winner1972 German Open Ng Boon Bee Elliot Stuart Derek Talbot 15–9, 15–12 Winner1972 Singapore Open Ng Boon Bee Tan Aik Huang Tan Aik Mong 11–15, retired Runner-up1974 Scottish Open Tom Bacher Ray Stevens Mike Tredgett 15–9, 15–8 Winner

References

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