Punch Gunalan

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

Commonwealth Games Men's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1974 Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand Jamie Paulson 15–1, 15–6 Gold 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 Gold 1974 Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand Dominic Soong Bob McCoig Fraser Gow 17–18, 15–5, 15–7 Bronze Bronze

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

Asian Championships Men's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1969 Rizal Stadium, Manila, Philippines Muljadi 11–15, 3–15 Silver 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 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 Gold 1971 Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tan Aik Huang 12–15, 11–15 Silver Silver 1973 Singapore Badminton Stadium, Singapore Tan Aik Mong 15–8, 15–11 Gold 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 Gold 1971 Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Ng Boon Bee Ng Tat Wai Ho Khim Kooi 15–10, 15–10 Gold Gold 1973 Singapore Badminton Stadium, Singapore Dominic Soong Sangob Rattanusorn Bandid Jaiyen 10–15, 15–18 Silver 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 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