Ong Poh Lim

Early life Ong was born on 18 November 1923, in Kuching, Sarawak. He was the son of Mr Ong and Mrs Ong Kheng Hong.

Ong, then a student of St. Thomas's School, Kuching, took a serious interest in badminton only after the visit of two Singapore badminton champions Leow Kim Fatt and Yap Chin Tee to Kuching in 1937. In June 1947, he went to Singapore to work as well as looking for opportunity to improve his attacking game. He was greatly assisted by Yap, a former high level player in Singapore. He moved to Singapore after World War II, where he played for Devonshire and Marigold Badminton Party, both well-established rivals to Mayflower Badminton Party, which produced Wong Peng Soon and a number of other prominent badminton players of that era. with Mary Sim in 1951, with Ong Siew Yong from 1952 to 1954, with Jessie Ong from 1960 to 1961 and with Lim Choo Eng in 1963. Ong also created history by capturing the Singapore Open singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles over three consecutive years, from 1952 to 1954. He was the most successful player in the competition's history, with a total of 22 combined titles.

Ong held the Malaysia Open men's singles title two times in 1954 and 1956, the men's doubles title four times in 1950, 1953, 1956 with Ismail Marjan and in 1955 with Ooi Teik Hock. He also won the mixed doubles title with Cecilia Samuel in 1952.

Ong also won many international titles in his tour of Europe and US. He won both the Irish Open men's singles and men's doubles titles in 1949 with Lim Kee Fong. Ong shared the All-England men's doubles title in 1954 with Ooi Teik Hock, having previously reached the finals of both singles and doubles at the All-England in 1951. As a pair, they also won the US Open men's doubles title in the same calendar year (1954).

Ong played on three consecutive world champion Malaya Thomas Cup teams of 1949, 1952 and 1955. He emerged victorious in all of his matches during these contests, contributing significantly to Malaya's success and earning the distinction of being the only Malayan player to achieve this feat. In the latter part of his career he represented Singapore in international competition. and the Philippines (1980). Ong was credited for having trained Lee Kin Tat, who reached the semi-finals of the All-England in 1964 and 1966; and the two-time All-England men's doubles champion of 1965 and 1966, Tan Yee Khan.

"Crocodile Serve" Ong's famous crocodile serve apparently came about by accident. He had a slight limp and he compensated this by "wiggling his behind, a little like Marilyn Monroe" (in his own words) before executing a quick back-hand flick serve to fool his opponents. And he did all these naturally. Because he was originally from Sarawak where the rivers were infested with crocodiles, a British journalist coined his peculiar serve after them.

Personal life Ong, remained a bachelor for his whole life and he lived alone at Sennett Close.

Besides badminton, Ong was also interested in antiques. He was a keen philatelist and amassed an extensive collection of rare and unusual stamps from all over the world, including those from Indonesia, Sarawak, Brunei and the Straits Settlements. His funeral was attended by officials from the SSC and the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA). He was buried at Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery.

Honours and awards In 1953, Ong was voted as the 1952 Sportsman of the Year by the readers of Singapore Free Press.

In 1986, Ong was inducted into the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) Sports Museum Hall of Fame. In 1996, he received a Meritorious Service Award from the International Badminton Federation (IBF) for his significant contribution to the growth of world badminton.

Ong was also inducted into the World Badminton Hall of Fame in 1998 as well as the Olympic Council of Malaysia’s Hall of Fame in 2004.

Achievements Tournaments Men's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result Ref1948 Singapore Open Wong Peng Soon 9–15, 11–15 Runner-up 1949 Irish Open Lim Kee Fong 15–9, 15–7 Winner 1951 All England Wong Peng Soon 18–15, 14–18, 7–15 Runner-up 1951 French Open Wong Peng Soon 15–9, 15–8 Winner 1951 Singapore Open Wong Peng Soon 13–18, 8–15 Runner-up 1952 Singapore Open Ismail Marjan Walkover Winner 1954 Malaysia Open Ooi Teik Hock 9–15, 15–1, 15–7 Winner 1954 Singapore Open Wong Peng Soon 9–15, 15–10, 17–16 Winner 1955 Singapore Open Omar Ibrahim 15–8, 15–5 Winner 1956 Malaysia Open Eddy Yusuf 15–8, 15–12 Winner

Men's doubles Year TournamentPartner Opponent Score Result Ref1948 Singapore Open Tan Chong Tee Teoh Peng Hooi Wong Peng Soon 8–15, 15–17 Runner-up 1949 Irish Open Lim Kee Fong Frank Peard Noel Radford 15–4, 15–6 Winner 1950 Malaysia Open Ismail Marjan Goh Chin Kim Abdulah Piruz 15–9, 15–3 Winner 1950 Singapore Open Ismail Marjan Teoh Peng Hooi Wong Peng Soon 15–12, 15–9 Winner 1951 Hull Open Ismail Marjan Noel Radford Wong Peng Soon 18–16, 15–12 Winner 1951 Surrey Open Ismail Marjan Noel Radford Wong Peng Soon 15–2, 15–12 Winner 1951 All England Ismail Marjan David Choong Eddy Choong 15–9, 7–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1951 Denmark Open Ismail Marjan Jørn Skaarup Preben Dabelsteen 15–9, 15–5 Winner 1951 Singapore Open Ismail Marjan Cheong Hock Leng Loong Pan Yap 15–8, 15–10 Winner 1952 Singapore Open Ismail Marjan Kon Kong Min Tan Chong Tee 15–11, 15–12 Winner 1953 Singapore Open Ismail Marjan Ng Heng Kwang Seah Hark Chim 15–2, 15–3 Winner 1954 All England Ooi Teik Hock David Choong Eddy Choong 18–16, 15–12 Winner 1954 Singapore Open Ismail Marjan Teoh Peng Hooi Wong Peng Soon 15–6, 15–10 Winner 1955 Malaysia Open Ooi Teik Hock Finn Kobberø Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen 15–7, 18–17 Winner 1955 Singapore Open Ismail Marjan Robert Lim Lim Wei Loon 15–7, 15–7 Winner 1956 Singapore Open Ismail Marjan Goh Tian Chye Tan Chin Guan 15–2, 15–8 Winner 1956 US Open Ooi Teik Hock Finn Kobberø Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen 15–9, 8–15, 7–15 Runner-up 1957 Singapore Open Ismail Marjan Johnny Heah Lim Say Hup 15–10, 4–15, 7–15 Runner-up 1958 Singapore Open Lim Say Wan Johnny Heah Lim Say Hup 9–15, 7–15 Runner-up 1959 Singapore Open Omar Yahya Johnny Kok Bob Lee 15–10, 15–10 Winner 1960 Singapore Open George Yap Bobby Chee Khoo Eng Huah 15–18, 15–11, 5–15 Runner-up 1961 Malaysia Open George Yap Ng Boon Bee Tan Yee Khan 15–18, 3–15 Runner-up 1961 Singapore Open Tan Yee Khan Robert Lim Lim Wei Loon 9–15, 15–11, 12–15 Runner-up 1962 Singapore Open Wee Choon Seng Ismail Ibrahim Omar Ibrahim 15–1, 15–7 Winner

Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result Ref1948 Singapore Open Helen Heng Wong Peng Soon Waileen Wong 5–15, 8–15 Runner-up 1950 Singapore Open Alice Pennefather Lau Teng Siah Mak Fong Sim 15–11, 15–6 Winner 1952 Singapore Open Ong Siew Yong Goh Tian Chye Alice Pennefather 18–17, 15–7 Winner 1956 Singapore Open Mary Quintal Teoh Peng Hooi Lau Hui Huang 18–16, 15–6 Winner 1963 Singapore Open Lim Choo Eng Tan Boon Liat Nancy Sng 15–8, 15–6 Winner Team Winner 1955 Thomas Cup (3) Team Winner