Punch Gunalan
Encyclopedia
Datuk Punch Gunalan is a former male badminton
star of Malaysia and one of the finest combination doubles and singles players that the country has ever produced.
He was a talented right-hander who spent what might have been some of the best years of his playing career competing only sporadically as a student in England. Gunalan did not represent Malaysia
in Thomas Cup
(the men's world team championship) until the 1970
series in Kuala Lumpur
at the comparatively late "rookie" age of 26. Here Malaysia relinquished its title to Indonesia
in the final, 2--7, with Gunalan and Ng Boon Bee
in doubles gaining one of the two points. In 1971 Gunalan and Boon Bee were the leading men's doubles team in the world, winning the prestigious All England
title, as well as the Danish, Canadian
, and U.S. Open
titles.
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 games to the iconic Rudy Hartono
. He won singles at the quadrennial Asian Games
in 1970 and at the quadrennial Commonwealth Games
in 1974.
Since retiring as a player after 1974, Gunalan has 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).
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
star of Malaysia and one of the finest combination doubles and singles players that the country has ever produced.
He was a talented right-hander who spent what might have been some of the best years of his playing career competing only sporadically as a student in England. Gunalan did not represent Malaysia
Malaysia national badminton team
The Malaysia national badminton team is a badminton team that plays for Malaysia in international competitions. The men's team has enjoyed immense success, having won the Thomas Cup five times, most recently in 1992...
in Thomas Cup
Thomas Cup
The Thomas Cup, sometimes called the World Men's Team Championships, is an international badminton competition among teams representing member nations of the Badminton World Federation , the sport's global governing body...
(the men's world team championship) until the 1970
1970 Thomas Cup
The 1970 Thomas Cup was the 8th tournament of Thomas Cup, the most important men's badminton team competition in the world. The final set of ties were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia....
series in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
at the comparatively late "rookie" age of 26. Here Malaysia relinquished its title to Indonesia
Indonesia national badminton team
The Indonesia national badminton team represents Indonesia in international badminton team competitions and is controlled by the Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia, PBSI , the governing body for badminton in Indonesia...
in the final, 2--7, with Gunalan and Ng Boon Bee
Ng Boon Bee
Ng Boon Bee is a former Malaysian badminton player who won numerous international doubles titles from the early 1960s to the early 1970s. In combination, first, with Tan Yee Khan and later with Punch Gunalan he won open men's doubles events in Malaysia, Indonesia, Denmark, Germany, Canada, and...
in doubles gaining one of the two points. In 1971 Gunalan and Boon Bee were the leading men's doubles team in the world, winning the prestigious All England
All England Open Badminton Championships
The All England Open Badminton Championships, or simply All England, is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious badminton tournaments. Played annually, it developed after the success of world's first badminton tournament held in Guildford in 1898...
title, as well as the Danish, Canadian
Canadian Open (badminton)
The Canadian Open in badminton is an international open held in Canada since 1957. The tournament is traditionally held every year in September....
, and U.S. Open
U.S. Open Badminton Championships
The U.S. Open Badminton Championships is an annual badminton tournament first held in 1954 when the American Badminton Association opened the U.S. National Badminton Championships to foreign competition. For the full list of winners see List of U.S. Open Badminton champions.-21st century:-External...
titles.
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
All England Open Badminton Championships
The All England Open Badminton Championships, or simply All England, is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious badminton tournaments. Played annually, it developed after the success of world's first badminton tournament held in Guildford in 1898...
singles final in 1974, losing in three close games to the iconic Rudy Hartono
Rudy Hartono
Rudy Hartono Kurniawan , born August 18, 1949) is a former Chinese Indonesian badminton player who won the men's singles title at the World Championship in 1980, and the prestigious All-England Championship trophy eight times, seven times consecutively , in the 1960s and 1970s. He is one of the...
. He won singles at the quadrennial Asian Games
Badminton at the Asian Games
Badminton is one of the regular Asian Games sports since 1962 in Jakarta, Indonesia.-History:Badminton made its debut in the Asian Games as a demonstration sport at the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, and became a regular competitive sport in 1962. In the 1962 Games, six events were held, with...
in 1970 and at the quadrennial Commonwealth Games
Badminton at the Commonwealth Games
Badminton debuted at the 1966 Commonwealth Games.-Location of the Commonwealth Games:The table below gives an overview of all host cities and countries of badminton at the Commonwealth Games.-Individual competition:-Medal table:-References:...
in 1974.
Since retiring as a player after 1974, Gunalan has served in various stints as coach of the Malaysian team
Malaysia national badminton team
The Malaysia national badminton team is a badminton team that plays for Malaysia in international competitions. The men's team has enjoyed immense success, having won the Thomas Cup five times, most recently in 1992...
, an official in the Malaysian Badminton Association, and as an official in the International Badminton Federation
International Badminton Federation
The Badminton World Federation is the international governing body for the sport of badminton. Founded in 1934 as the International Badminton Federation with nine member nations , the BWF has since expanded to 165 member nations around the world...
(now Badminton World Federation).