Punch Gunalan

Punch Gunalan was a Malaysian badminton legend who achieved success in both singles and doubles competitions. He was a talented right-hander who spent some of the best years of his playing career competing only sporadically as a student in England. He partnered with Ng Boon Bee to become the leading men's doubles team in the world in the early 1970s, winning several prestigious titles such as the All England, the Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Championships. He also reached the All England singles final in 1974, losing to the iconic Rudy Hartono in three close games. He helped Malaysia reach the Thomas Cup final in 1970, and 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. After retiring as a player in 1974, he served in various stints as coach of the Malaysian team, an official in the Malaysian Badminton Association and as an official in the International Badminton Federation (now Badminton World Federation). He was instrumental in leading Malaysia to win the Thomas Cup in 1992 as the coach and team manager, and also in relocating the BWF headquarters from England to Kuala Lumpur. He was the president of the BWF from 2004 to 2008, and also held various posts in the Asian Badminton Confederation and the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association. He was honoured with several awards, such as the National Sportsman of the Year in 1969 and 1974, the Order of Loyalty to the Royal Family of Malaysia, and the Olympic Council of Malaysia's Hall of Fame. He died on 15 August 2012 after suffering from liver cancer. He was 68 years old.