Dato' Choong Ewe Beng (29 May 1931 – 28 January 2013) was a Malaysian badminton player. He was David Choong's brother and they played men's doubles together.
Early life Choong Ewe Beng, also known as Eddy, was born on 29 May 1931, and was the third son of a wealthy family in Penang. His parents were named Dato' Choong Eng Hai and Datin Ho Guat Im.
Choong first went to primary and secondary school in Penang before moving to England at the turn of the 1950s to study law and medicine. His passion for the sport quickly eclipsed his studies and Eddy later said his studies were “long forgotten”.
In the UK, Eddie was much attracted to the Jim Russell School of racing driving and enrolled, but parental pressure forced him to re-think his priorities. However, his passion for driving took him to other aspects of motor sports, and when back on Penang, he revelled in grass track, hill climbs and karting. He was extremely active in introducing the "Penang Karting Grand Prix" in Georgetown, which attracted karters from all over the Far East.
In 1966, with the All-England men's Singles and Doubles titles being won by Malaysians, an exhibition match was arranged at the Georgetown Chinese Girls' High School, with the pinnacle match being between the then current doubles champions, Ng Boon Bee and Tan Yee Khan, and Tan Aik Huang and Eddie Choong.
Career Measuring at , Eddy was smaller than most of his European competitors but he made up for the height difference with endless energy and amazing acrobatic jumps that triggered a running gag about Eddy hiding springs in his shoes. Eddy was considered to be one of the first athletes to do a jump smash. His trademark shot was known as the “Airborne Kill”.
He won hundreds of regional titles and over 65 international titles in all three disciplines from 1949 to 1966. Eddy won many of these titles partnering his brother, David Choong, and his cousin, Amy Choong. Thirty of his international titles were gained from 1951 to 1953.
Choong won the men's singles at the All England Open Badminton Championships four times between 1953 and 1957 when it was considered the unofficial world championship of the sport. He also reached the All-England singles final in 1952 and 1955 and won the men's doubles with his brother in 1951, 1952, and 1953.Herbert Scheele ed., The International Badminton Federation Handbook for 1971 (Canterbury, Kent, England: J. A. Jennings Ltd., 1971) 163. He was a member of the 1955 Malayan Thomas Cup (men's international) team which retained the world team championship, and the 1958 team which surrendered the title to IndonesiaScheele, 75, 76, 84.
After retirement Eddy settled in his native Penang for his retirement. After badminton, he bred dogs and raced fast cars and go-karts. He was a good driver and made a name for himself in motor racing after winning many titles from 1967 to 1982. Eddy was also the chairman of the Hock Hin Brothers Group which was his family business in real estate and housing development. Additionally, Eddy was involved at a high level in kennel associations in Malaysia.
In 1995, Eddy became the vice-president of the Penang Badminton Association and chairman of the Badminton Association of Malaysia Technical Advisory Panel. He focused on developing badminton in his native Penang. Choong used his own money to convert a family factory into Penang's first indoor badminton stadium. He later invested 1.5 million MYR to build the Penang International Badminton Hall. It opened in 1992.
Racial issues Eddy was also a strong promoter of racial equality. Partially due to bad experiences during his childhood, Eddy was sensitive to racial issues. Eddy saw his performances in badminton as a way of showing that all races can be equally good at sport.
At the 1956 All England, he refused to attend the traditional celebration dinner because he felt the organisers treated him unfairly due to racial discrimination. On another occasion, Jørn Skaarup of Denmark gave away a match to Choong in which he felt the Malaysian was treated unfairly. Skaarup earned Choong's respect and friendship with his fair play.
Personal life In 1959, Eddy married Maggie Thean Sun Lin. Together, they had 4 sons – Finn, Lionel, Antonio and Jorgen. His eldest son, Finn, and third son, Jorgen, were named after Eddy's longtime badminton rivals and friends, Finn Kobero and Jorgen Hamergard Hansan, respectively.
Death Eddy died on 28 January 2013 at the age of 82.
Awards In 1994, Eddy won the Herbert Scheele award and was inducted into the IBF Hall of Fame in 1997.
Eddy made such an influence on the game that the IBF named an award after him: The Eddie Choong Player of the Year. This award was given to players who achieved exceptional results during a given year. Peter Gade was the first player to win this award in 1998. In 2008, the award was renamed the Eddie Choong Most Promising Player of the Year and given to the player who showed to be the most promising during a calendar year.
Honours
Lieutenant of the Order of the Defender of State (D.S.P.N.) – Dato' (1996)
Achievements Asian Games Mixed doubles YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult1966Kittikachorn Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand Tan Gaik Bee Teh Kew San Rosalind Singha Ang13–18, 15–11, 5–15 Silver
International tournaments (54 titles, 24 runners-up) Men's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result1951Denmark Open Wong Peng Soon8–15, 5–15 Runner-up1951Scottish Open Frank Peard15–11, 15–6 Winner1951Irish International Cheong Hock Leng15–5, 15–12 Winner1952Scottish Open Johnny Heah11–15, 8–15 Runner-up1952Irish International Johnny Heah15–7, 15–11 Winner1952All England Wong Peng Soon 11–15, 13–18 Runner-up1952French Open David Choong15–5, 15–8 Winner1953Scottish Open Frank Peard15–12, 15–10 Winner1953Irish International John D. McColl15–2, 15–0 Winner1953All England Johnny Heah15–4, 15–4 Winner1953Denmark Open Finn Kobberø15–3, 15–7 Winner1953French Open David Choong 15–3, 15–7 Winner1954Dutch Open Jørn Skaarup15–9, 15–10 Winner1954All England Donald Smythe15–5, 15–6 Winner1954U.S. Open Joe Alston15–5, 2–15, 15–13 Winner1954Norwegian International David Choong15–5, 15–6 Winner1955Dutch Open Ole Mertz15–5, 15–0 Winner1955German Open David Choong15–3, 9–15, 18–13 Winner1955All England Wong Peng Soon 7–15, 17–14, 10–15 Runner-up1955U.S. Open Joe Alston5–15, 8–15 Runner-up1956Swiss Open David Choong15–7, 15–1 Winner1956German Open Ferry Sonneville15–6, 15–0 Winner1956All England Finn Kobberø 11–15, 15–3, 15–11 Winner1957Scottish Open Oon Chong Teik15–5, 15–8 Winner1957Irish International Oon Chong Teik15–7, 15–12 Winner1957Dutch Open Oon Chong Teik15–8, 15–2 Winner1957All England Erland Kops15–9, 15–3 Winner1957German Open Ferry Sonneville15–12, 15–12 Winner1957Malaysia Open Abdullah Piruz15–6, 15–3 Winner1957U.S. Open Finn Kobberø 10–15, 15–2, 4–15 Runner-up1960Malaysia Open Eddy Yusuf15–13, 15–9 Winner
Men's doubles Year TournamentPartner Opponent Score Result1951Scottish Open David Choong Frank Peard Jim FitzGibbon15–12, 15–4 Winner1951All England David Choong Ong Poh Lim Ismail Marjan9–15, 15–7, 15–10 Winner1951French Open Cheong Hock Leng Ong Poh Lim Ismail Marjan 7–15, 7–15 Runner-up1952Scottish Open David Choong Robert Hodge Wilfred Robinson15–5, 15–1 Winner1952All England David Choong Poul Holm Ole Jensen9–15, 15–12, 15–7 Winner1952Irish International David Choong Johnny Heah Jim FitzGibbon15–11, 15–5 Winner1952French Open David Choong Henri Pellizza Paul Ailloud15–2, 15–5 Winner1953Scottish Open David Choong Frank Peard Jim FitzGibbon15–12, 15–12 Winner1953Irish International David Choong Frank Peard Jim FitzGibbon15–8, 15–3 Winner1953All England David Choong Poul Holm Ole Jensen 15–5, 15–12 Winner1953Denmark Open David Choong Poul Holm Ole Jensen 15–6, 15–9 Winner1953French Open David Choong Peter Birtwistle S. L. Jaini15–9, 15–6 Winner1954All England David Choong Ong Poh Lim Ooi Teik Hock16–18, 12–15 Runner-up1954U.S. Open David Choong Ong Poh Lim Ooi Teik Hock1–15, 4–15 Runner-up1954Norwegian International David Choong Leif Jensen Benny Andersen15–2, 15–0 Winner1955Dutch Open David Choong A. Lillelund Ole Mertz15–8, 15–3 Winner1955German Open David Choong Erland Olsen Niels Buchholst15–2, 15–2 Winner1955All England David Choong Finn Kobberø Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen9–15, 17–14, 11–15 Runner-up1955U.S. Open T. Darryl Thompson Joe Alston Wynn Rogers6–15, 15–12, 8–15 Runner-up1956Swiss Open Robert Lim David Choong Richard Lee16–18, 13–15 Runner-up1957Scottish Open Oon Chong Teik Frank Peard Jim FitzGibbon15–0, 15–12 Winner1957Irish International Oon Chong Teik John Best Tony Jordan15–7, 15–8 Winner1957Dutch Open Oon Chong Teik John Timperley Hugh Findlay18–15, 15–18, 15–2 Winner1957All England David Choong Joe Alston Johnny Heah10–15, 17–16, 5–15 Runner-up1957German Open David Choong Ferry Sonneville Arne Rasmussen15–9, 17–18, 15–9 Winner1957U.S. Open Bert Fergus Finn Kobberø Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen12–15, 2–15 Runner-up1959Malaysia Open Erland Kops Teh Kew San Lim Say Hup11–15, 9–15 Runner-up1966Malaysia Open Tan Aik Huang Sangob Rattanusorn Chavalert Chumkum17–14, 15–12 Winner1966Singapore Open Yew Cheng Hoe Tan Yee Khan Khor Cheng Chye15–13, 8–15, 15–2 Winner
Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result1949Malaysia Open Amy Choong Chan Kon Leong Valentine Chan15–9, 11–15, 15–7 Winner1951Irish International Amy Choong Frank Peard Queenie Webber15–9, 15–6 Winner1951French Open Queenie Webber Cheong Hock Leng Audrey Stone15–7, 15–7 Winner1952French Open Queenie Webber David Choong Mimi Wyatt12–15, 15–1, 15–11 Winner1953Scottish Open Dorothy Donaldson David Choong Nancy Horner3–15, 7–15 Runner-up1953Irish International June White David Choong Iris Cooley15–6, 15–6 Winner1953Denmark Open Agnete Friis David Choong Inger Kjærgaard18–17, 15–5 Winner1953French Open Jenifer Peters Peter Birtwistle Betty Grace15–8, 15–5 Winner1955German Open Hanne Jensen David Choong Annelise Hansen3–15, 9–15 Runner-up1957Dutch Open Hanne Jensen Hugh Findlay Barbara Carpenter12–15, 15–7, 15–1 Winner1957German Open Barbara Carpenter Erland Kops Agnete Friis6–15, 10–15 Runner-up1957Malaysia Open Lim Kit Lin Lim Say Hup Tan Gaik Bee3–15, 15–6, 12–15 Runner-up1963Malaysia Open Tan Gaik Bee Bobby Chee Ewe Choon Ghee4–15, 15–4, 15–6 Winner 1965 Malaysia Open Rosalind Singha Ang Teh Kew San Ng Mei Ling 10–15, 7–15 Runner-up 1966 Penang Open Rosalind Singha Ang Abdul Patah Unang Minarni 13–15, 9–15 Runner-up 1966 Malaysia Open Rosalind Singha Ang Abdul Patah Unang Retno Koestijah 8–9, retired Runner-up 1966 Perak Open Minarni Tan Yee Khan Retno Koestijah 9–15, 11–15 Runner-up 1966 Singapore Open Lim Choo Eng Billy Ng Sylvia Ng 15–17 retired Runner-up
Summary RankEventDateTournamentOpen Championships1Men's singlesMen's doubles1953, 1954, 1956, 19571951, 1952, 1953All England1Men's singlesMen's doublesMixed doubles195319531953Denmark Open1Men's singles Men's doubles Mixed doubles1954, 1955, 1957 1955, 1957 1957Dutch Open1Men's singlesMen's doublesMixed doubles1952, 19531952, 19531951, 1952, 1953French Open1Men's singles Men's doubles1955, 1956 1955German Open1Men's singles Men's doubles Mixed doubles1951, 1952, 1953, 1957 1952, 1953, 1957 1951, 1953Irish International1Men's singlesMen's doublesMixed doubles1957, 196019661949, 1963Malaysia Open1Men's singles Men's doubles 1954 1954Norwegian International1Men's singles Men's doubles1951, 1953, 1957 1951, 1952, 1953, 1957Scottish Open1Men's doubles1966Singapore Open1Men's singles1956Swiss Open1Men's singles1954US Open1Men's singles Men's doubles1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956 1950, 1954Wimbledon International2Men's singlesMen's doubles1952, 19551954, 1955, 1957All England
References
Sources Eddy Choong - MSN Encarta( 2009-10-31) Eddy Choong, Fred Brundle: Badminton. Foyles Handbooks, London, Foyle, 1955