Badminton in Singapore

Badminton was introduced in Singapore in the early 19th century and reached the height of its success in the 1950s.¹ As part of the Malayan team, Singapore clinched the inaugural Thomas Cup in 1949 and retained it in 1952 and 1955.² Today, Singapore shuttlers continue to succeed in the global arena by clinching numerous medals in the Commonwealth and SEA Games.³

Early history
Badminton was introduced in Singapore by the British and was initially played among the British upperclass residing in Singapore. By the mid-1930s, however, the game had spread to the rest of the local population which included English-educated elites, civil servants, white-collar workers and Chinese school students. One of the reasons that the sport was adopted at such pace was due to its relatively convenient gameplay – it requires only a few players – and any piece of flat ground could be turned into a badminton court.⁴

Amid the rising popularity of badminton, badminton enthusiasts started forming clubs, or “parties”, to meet and play the game.⁵ Some of the more popular ones included the Mayflower Badminton Party, Marigold Badminton Party, Useful Badminton Party and Diehard Badminton Party.⁶

In 1929, the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) was established with Tan Boo Teck as its first president.⁷ The objectives of the SBA were to promote the sport and organise competitions. Badminton parties could affiliate themselves with the SBA and join its annual open championships where the best players were chosen to represent Singapore in the prestigious Malayan Badminton Championships. Some of the players who made the cut during the prewar period included E. J. Vass, Alice Pennefather,⁸ Wang Siew Eng (also known as Mrs Chionh Hiok Chor),⁹ A. S. Samuel,¹⁰ Leow Kim Fatt, Koh Keng Siang, Yap Chin Tee,¹¹ S. A. Durai, Seah Eng Hee,¹² Tan Chong Tee and Wong Peng Soon.¹³

Postwar decades
After the Japanese Occupation (1942–45), Singapore’s interest in the sport began to diminish as some of its best players were lost to the war, coupled with the lack of facilities and the rising maintenance cost for a badminton club at the amateur level. Nonetheless, the immediate postwar period saw the rise of players such as Ong Poh Lim and Wong.¹⁴ They were part of the first Malayan team in 1949 that clinched the inaugural Thomas Cup by overwhelming Denmark 8–1.¹⁵ Wong, however, missed the finals due to an injury.¹⁶

At the 1952 Thomas Cup championship, the Malayan team defeated America 7–2 to retain the Cup. The team on this occasion included veterans Wong and Ong as well as Ismail Marjan.¹⁷ In 1955, Wong and Ong were again in the Malayan team – this time they captured their third consecutive Cup title, defeating Denmark 8–1 at the Singapore Badminton Hall. However, in 1958, the Malayan team coached by Wong lost the Thomas Cup to Indonesia 3–6, ending its dominance in the competition.¹⁸

Postindependence years
After Singapore gained independence in 1965, badminton in Singapore experienced a revival beginning with the 1983 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, where Wong Shoon Keat took the gold medal in the men’s singles.¹⁹ In 1986, Singapore qualified for the finals of the Thomas Cup for the first time as an independent nation.²⁰ Singapore later hosted the Seiko World Grand Prix Finals in 1989 and the inaugural Konica Cup tournament in 1987.²¹

At the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the Singapore team captured a gold medal in the women’s singles and silver in the mixed team event.²² The following year, the Singapore team clinched four bronze medals as well as the first-ever gold for the women’s team in the SEA Games.²³

In 2006, the women’s team reached the finals of Uber Cup for the first time.²⁴ The team also won the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and the bronze medal at the Asian Games, which was the nation’s first-ever medal in the latter’s badminton event.²⁵

In the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Singapore badminton team continued their success by bagging the silver medal for the women’s doubles, and bronze medals for the mixed doubles and men’s doubles.²⁶ The women’s team went a step further that year by winning the women’s doubles in the Li-Ning Singapore Open Super Series – a first for the Singapore team in the 20-year history of the tournament.²⁷ The women’s team continued to deliver by claiming Singapore’s first gold medal for the women’s singles in the 2011 SEA Games.²⁸

In 2014, both the men’s and women’s teams qualified for the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup finals.²⁹ They also took home the bronze medal for the mixed team segment, as well as silver medals for the men’s singles and men’s doubles in the Commonwealth Games later that year.³⁰

In the 2015 SEA Games, the Singapore badminton team picked up four bronze medals – for the men’s doubles, men’s singles as well as and men’s and women’s team events.³¹

Promoting badminton
Promotion and development of the sport has been led by the SBA since it was formed in 1929.³² Many society elites such as Song Ong Siang, Aw Boon Haw and Tan Chin Tuan served as patrons of the Association to help promote badminton among the masses.³³ The SBA was also headed by badminton enthusiasts. Some of its notable past presidents include Lim Chuan Geok, captain-manager of the victorious 1949 Thomas Cup team and who oversaw the building of the Singapore Badminton Hall;³⁴ former president of Singapore Wee Kim Wee, who was a keen player in his youth;³⁵ and Minister for Manpower Lim Swee Say, the former Association president who was publicly moved to tears when Ronald Susilo lost in the quarterfinals of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.³⁶

In 2000, the SBA set out a blueprint for Singapore to win the Thomas Cup by 2012.³⁷ The plan included strengthening the talent pipeline by building a multigenerational base of players, recruiting players through local schools, and opening all Association matches to foreign players.³⁸ More significantly, the Association began acquiring foreign players and coaches including Ronald Susilo, Taufik Hidayat, and the latter’s coach Mulyo Handoyo.³⁹ However, this strategy has since being replaced by one that focuses more on developing and grooming local talents. The last time Singapore granted citizenship to foreign-born shuttlers was in 2014.⁴⁰

Badminton facilities 
In the pre- and postwar periods, badminton games and SBA’s meetings were held mostly at the former Clerical Union Hall before they were shifted to the Singapore Badminton Hall after it opened in 1952.⁴¹ When the Hall became inadequate, an adjoining S$5.5-million SBA Club House equipped with badminton courts, a gymnasium and other amenities was added in 1986.⁴² The clubhouse was opened by then President Wee.⁴³ In January 2008, the SBA was relocated to the Singapore Sports School.⁴⁴ The Association is currently located at the Singapore Sports Hub, where badminton events are also held.⁴⁵



Authors
Joanna Tan & Lim Tin Seng



References
1. Tan Chong Tee, Upholding the Legacy: Singapore Badminton (Singapore: Asiapac, 2002), 7 (Call no. RSING 796.345095957 TAN); Tan H. D. (1986). “A Look Back,” in Singapore Badminton Association, The Official Opening of the Singapore Badminton Association Club House 7th May 1986, vol. 1 (Singapore: Harper Press Pte Ltd., 1986), 27. (Call no. RCLOS EPHE 0762)
2. Tan, “A Look Back,” 27.
3. “Inspiring Performances by Team Singapore at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games,” Singapore National Olympic Council, accessed 30 June 2016; Low Lin Fhoong, “Kean Yew Settles for Bronze in Men’s Singles,” Today, 16 June 2015, 33. (From NewspaperSG)
4. “The A.S.A.,” Straits Times, 3 January 1932, 3 (From NewspaperSG); Tan, Upholding the Legacy, 7.
5. Tan, Upholding the Legacy, 12; S. R. Nathan and Timothy Auger, An Unexpected Journey: Path to the Presidency (Singapore: Editions Didier Millet, 2011), 36–37. (Call no. RSING 959.5705092 NAT)
6. Tan, Upholding the Legacy, 12; Nathan and Auger, An Unexpected Journey, 36–37.
7. “Mr Tan Boo Teck: President of Local Association,” Straits Times, 1 April 1934, 18; “Tan Boo Teck,” Straits Times, 3 December 1933, 14; “Untitled,” Malayan Saturday Post, 10 September 1932, 13. (From NewspaperSG)
8. “Mrs. Pennefather Wins Badminton Title,” Straits Times, 6 December 1937, 14; “Grand Old Lady of Sport Dies,” Straits Times, 25 February 1938, 42. (From NewspaperSG)
9. Malayan Badminton Championships,” Straits Times, 7 December 1937, 14. (From NewspaperSG)
10. “Malayan Badminton Is of High Standard,” Straits Times, 7 February 1939, 19. (From NewspaperSG)
11. “Singapore Badminton Notes,” Straits Times, 6 July 1941, 17. (From NewspaperSG)
12. “Badminton Championships,” Straits Times, 27 March 1938, 31. (From NewspaperSG)
13. Tan, Upholding the Legacy, 15, 17, 21, 31.
14. Tan, Upholding the Legacy, 57–58.
15. Tan, “A Look Back,” 27; “How Malaya Won Thomas Cup,” Straits Times, 28 February 1949, 8. (From NewspaperSG)
16. Lee Siew Yee, “Bad New Clouds Malaya’s Great Win,” Straits Times, 24 February 1949, 8. (From NewspaperSG)
17. Tan, “A Look Back,” 27; Ong Kah Kuan, K. K. (1984). We Were Great: Thomas Cup Badminton (Selangor: Federal Publications, 1984), 47–54. (Call no. RSING 796.345 ONG)
18. Tan, “A Look Back,” 27; Ong, We Were Great, 65–72, 87–93.
19. Kenneth Jalleh, “After Shoon Keat, Who?” Singapore Monitor, 18 October 1983, 28; Leonard King, “Match-Point! It’s Now Left to the Association,” Straits Times, 7 June 1983, 37. (From NewspaperSG0
20. J. Rajendran, “A Future Flight,” Straits Times, 25 February 1986, 33 (From NewspaperSG); May Chen, “Badminton: Singapore’s Men Earn Entry to Thomas Cup Finals for First Time Since 1986,” Straits Times, 31 March 2014. (From Factiva via NLB’s eResources website)
21. A. Surenden, “US$175,000 Seiko Grand Prix To Be Held in S'pore,” Business Times, 21 April 1989, 14; A. Surenden, A. “Konica Cup Puts Republic on Map,” Straits Times, 17 December 1987, 37. (From NewspaperSG)
22. “Badminton,” Straits Times, 27 December 2002, 13. (From NewspaperSG)
23. Stanley Ho, “Women Shuttlers in Historic Triumph,” Today, 9 December 2003, 60; Tan Yo-Hinn, “Badminton's Target on Track,” Today, 13 July 2004, 48. (From NewspaperSG)
24. Chan Yi Shen, “S'pore Through To Their First Uber Cup Finals,” Straits Times, 18 February 2006, 22. (From NewspaperSG)
25. Alvin Foo, “Battlers Li and Jiang Have To Settle for Silver,” Straits Times, 27 March 2006, 9; Chan Yi Shen, “Ordinary S’pore Crash 0–3 To Japan in S-Finals,” Straits Times, 5 December 2006, 10. (From NewspaperSG)
26. Sport Singapore, “Team Singapore Athletes Rewarded For Medal Haul, press release, 17 February 2011.
27. V. Lim, “Nation’s Flag Flies High at Singapore Badminton Open As Shuttlers Claim Women’s Doubles Title,” Red Sports, accessed 30 June 2016.
28. Sport Singapore, “Team Singapore’s Outing at the 26th SEA Games: 42 Gold, 45 Silver and 73 Bronze in Tow,” press release, 1 November 2011.
29. Chen, “Badminton: Singapore’s Men Earn Entry to Thomas Cup Finals for First Time Since 1986.”
30. Singapore National Olympic Council, “Inspiring Performances by Team Singapore at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.”
31. Low, “Kean Yew Settles for Bronze in Men’s Singles.”
32. “President of Local Association”; May Chen, “Badminton: SBA Going Local To Attain Goals,” Straits Times, 26 May 2016, 9. (From NewspaperSG)
33. “Untitled”; Singapore Badminton Association, The Official Opening of the Singapore Badminton Association Club House 7th May 1986, vol. 1 (Singapore: Harper Press Pte Ltd., 1986), 10. (Call no. RCLOS EPHE 0762)
34. “32 Years of Loyal Service,” Singapore Free Press, 30 May 1952, 3; “See For Yourself, Invites Mr Lim,” Straits Times, 7 May 1952, 12. (From NewspaperSG)
35. J. Rajendran, “Badminton Champ in His Youth,” Straits Times, 28 August 1985, 8. (From NewspaperSG)
36. Tay Cheng Koon, “Susilo’s Medal Dream Dashed,” Straits Times, 19 August 2004, 1 (From NewspaperSG); “Lim Swee Say,” Parliament of Singapore, accessed 2 July 2016.  
37. Chan Tse Chueen, “Shuttlers Aim for Thomas Cup 2012,” Straits Times, 19 January 2000, 3. (From NewspaperSG)
38. Gerard Wong, “Local Tourney To Go Regional,” Straits Times, 1 December 2000, 3; Tay Cheng Khoon, “$19M Budget for Thomas Cup Quest,” Straits Times, 22 January 2000, 86; Chan Tse Chueen, “Shuttlers Aim for Thomas Cup 2012,” 19 January 2000, Straits Times, 3. (From NewspaperSG)
39. Godfrey Robert, “SBA, Convince Taufik To 90 for Citizenship,” Straits Times, 22 January 2002, 2; Wong, “Local Tourney To Go Regional.” 
40. Chen, “Badminton: SBA Going Local To Attain Goals.”
41. Tan, “A Look Back,” 27.
42. Ong Teng Cheong “Address by Ong Teng Cheong,” in Singapore Badminton Association, The Official Opening of the Singapore Badminton Association Club House 7th May 1986, vol. 1 (Singapore: Harper Press Pte Ltd., 1986), 3. (Call no. RCLOS EPHE 0762)
43. Tay Cheng Khoon, “President Drops A Shuttle Hint,”  Straits Times, 8 May 1986, 25. (From NewspaperSG)
44. Jeanette Wang, “SBA To Get New Home At Sports School,” Straits Times, 25 September 2007, 36. (From NewspaperSG)
45. “OCBC Arena,” Singapore Sports Hub, accessed 29 June 2016.  


Further resource
Badminton Association of Malaya, Thomas Cup Singapore 1955: Souvenir (Singapore: Straits Times Press, 1955). (Call no. RCLOS 796.345 BAD)



The information in this article is valid as at 2016 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic