Malaysian Badminton Legend Tan Yee Khan, 1967 Thomas Cup Hero, Dies At 85

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Malaysia lost one of its badminton greats on Monday (26 January).

Datuk Tan Yee Khan, a legendary player who helped bring home the 1967 Thomas Cup, passed away on Jan. 26, 2026.

He was 85.

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) confirmed his death through Deputy President I Datuk V Subramaniam, who called it “a huge loss” to Malaysian badminton.

“On behalf of BAM, I would like to extend our condolences to the family of the deceased. We have lost a legend who was among the pioneers of Malaysian badminton in the early 1960s,” Subramaniam told the press.

One Half Of A Legendary Doubles Pair

Tan is best remembered for his partnership with the late Datuk Ng Boon Bee.

Together, they were one of the most feared men’s doubles teams of the 1960s.

Their trophy cabinet was seriously stacked:

• Thomas Cup champion (1967, Jakarta)
• All England champions (1965, 1966)
• Asian Games gold medals (1962, 1966)
• Asian Championships (1965)
• SEA Games gold (1961, 1965, 1967)
• Malaysian Open titles (1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968)

That’s five Malaysian Open titles, by the way. Five.

From Badminton Courts To Beach Resorts

After retiring from competitive badminton, Tan didn’t just fade into the background.

He became a hotelier, owning and running the Seaview Pangkor Resort (also known as Seaview Hotel) in Pasir Bogak, Pangkor Island.

Subramaniam said Tan’s achievements and dedication to the sport paved the way for future generations of Malaysian players to shine on the world stage.

And honestly? Looking at that list of achievements, it’s not hard to see why he became an inspiration.

The 1967 Thomas Cup win in Jakarta remains one of Malaysian badminton’s proudest moments—and Tan Yee Khan was right there making it happen.

His cremation will be held on Wednesday (28 January) at 10 am at Gunung Rapat Columbarium in Ipoh.

Rest in peace, legend.

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Malaysian Badminton Legend Tan Yee Khan, 1967 Thomas Cup Hero, Dies At 85
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