Former doubles ace Boon Bee receives Datukship
Saturday July 19, 2008
Former doubles ace Boon Bee receives Datukship
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian sport welcomed its second Datuk in a week yesterday.
Former men’s badminton doubles great Ng Boon Bee was among the 22 recipients of the Darjah Dato’ Paduka Tuanku Ja’afar (DPTJ) award, which also carries the title Datuk.
The award was given in conjunction with the Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan Tuanku Ja’afar’s 86th birthday.
Last week, world No. 1 squash player Nicol David, 25, became the country’s youngest Datuk after receiving her Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN) from the Yang di-Pertua Negri of Penang Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas.
The awards show that the contributions of our sportsmen and sportswomen in their pursuits for glory for the country is deeply valued and appreciated.
The 70-year-old Boon Bee won the All-England men’s doubles title three times – twice with Tan Yee Khan in 1965 and 1966 and once with Punch Gunalan in 1971.
Boon Bee was also a member of the 1967 Thomas Cup winning team.
Both Yee Khan and Punch had received their Datukship earlier.
