David E. L. Choong

Choong Ewe Leong (simplified Chinese: 庄友良; traditional Chinese: 莊友良; pinyin: Zhuāng Youliáng; Jyutping: Zong1 Jau5 Loeng4; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chng Iú-liông; 5 April 1929 – 10 September 2011) was a former Malaysian badminton player and politician.

Career

With his younger brother, the charismatic Eddy Choong, he captured men's doubles titles at the prestigious All-England Championships in 1951, 1952, and 1953. They were finalists in 1954, 1955, and 1957.^[1] He shared the All-England mixed doubles crown with June White (Timperly) in 1953 and they were finalists in 1955.^[2] Between 1949 and 1957 Choong won national open titles in most of the European nations that held such tournaments.^[3] In part, because he resided in Great Britain during most of his badminton prime, David Choong never represented Malaya in the coveted Thomas Cup (world team) competition. He was inducted into the International Badminton Hall of Fame in 1998.

Politics

Choong was a Penang State Legislative Assemblyman for Air Itam from 1974 to 1978. He also contested in the 1964 for the Tanjong parliamentary seat as an Alliance coalition candidate of Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and 1990 general election for the Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat as Barisan Nasional coalition candidate of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan).

Election results

Death

Choong died on 10 September 2011 in

•  Malaysia :
  • Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) (1968)^[5]
•  Penang :
  • Officer of the Order of the Defender of State (DSPN) - Dato' (1988)^[6]

Achievements

International tournaments

Men's singles

Year	Tournament	Opponent	Score	Result
1952	French Open	Eddy Choong	5–15, 8–15	Runner-up
1953	French Open	Eddy Choong	3–15, 7–15	Runner-up

Men's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1951	All England	Eddy Choong	Ong Poh Lim Ismail Marjan	9–15, 15–7, 15–10	Winner
1952	All England	Eddy Choong	Poul Holm Ole Jensen	9–15, 15–12, 15–7	Winner
1952	French Open	Eddy Choong	Henri Pellizza Paul Ailloud	15–2, 15–5	Winner
1953	All England	Eddy Choong	Poul Holm Ole Jensen	15–5, 15–12	Winner
1953	Denmark Open	Eddy Choong	Poul Holm Ole Jensen	15–6, 15–9	Winner
1953	French Open	Eddy Choong	Peter Birtwistle S. L. Jaini		Winner
1954	All England	Eddy Choong	Ong Poh Lim Ooi Teik Hock	16–18, 12–15	Runner-up
1955	All England	Eddy Choong	Finn Kobberø Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen	9–15, 17–14, 11–15	Runner-up
1957	All England	Eddy Choong	Joe Alston Johnny Heah	10–15, 17–16, 5–15	Runner-up
1957	German Open	Eddy Choong	Ferry Sonneville Arne Rasmussen	15–9, 17–18, 15–9	Winner

Mixed doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1952	French Open	Mimi Wyatt	Eddy Choong Queenie Webber	15–12, 1–15, 11–15	Runner-up
1953	Denmark Open	Inger Kjærgaard	Eddy Choong Agnete Friis	17–18, 5–15	Runner-up

References