Tan Yee Khan: Badminton Legend Dies at 86

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 — Malaysian badminton legend Tan Yee Khan, a former Thomas Cup winner, has died at the age of 86.

According to a report in Free Malaysia Todayhis son, Kenneth Tan, said Yee Khan passed away peacefully in his sleep earlier today.

Yee Khan made his mark in international badminton during the 1960s, forming a successful doubles partnership with the late Ng Boon Bee and helping Malaysia secure the Thomas Cup in Jakarta in 1967.

Beyond the Thomas Cup, the duo captured consecutive All England titles in 1965 and 1966, Asian Games gold medals in Jakarta in 1962 and Bangkok in 1966, as well as three Seap Games gold medals between 1961 and 1967.

Yee Khan later received international recognition for his contributions to the sport when he was inducted into the World Badminton Hall of Fame in 1998.

He stepped away from competitive badminton in 1969 due to chronic back problems, later finding success as an amateur golfer.

His wake reportedly will be held at the Vcare Memorial Centre in Ipoh, with cremation rites scheduled to take place at the Papan Memorial Park Crematorium on Wednesday.

James Whitfield

James Whitfield is Archysport's racket sports and golf specialist, bringing a global perspective to tennis, badminton, and golf coverage. Based between London and Singapore, James has covered Grand Slam tournaments, BWF World Tour events, and major golf championships on five continents. His reporting combines on-the-ground access with deep knowledge of the technical and strategic elements that separate elite athletes from the rest of the field. James is fluent in English, French, and Mandarin, giving him unique access to athletes across the global tennis and badminton circuits.

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