Tan Yee Khan (; 24 September 1940 – 26 January 2026) was a Malaysian badminton player who represented his country in badminton events around the world during the 1960s.
Career Though capable of high-level singles (he won Japan's "World Invitational" tourney in 1964 and ousted Erland Kops in the first round of the 1966 All Englands),Herbert Scheele, International Badminton Federation Handbook for 1969 (Canterbury, Kent, England: J. A. Jennings Ltd., 1969) 202. Yee Khan was primarily a doubles player who won numerous major international titles in partnership with Ng Boon Bee. Powerfully built and substantially bigger than most Asian players of his day, he was reputed to be the hardest smasher in the game. He won the coveted All-England men's doubles title with Boon Bee consecutively in 1965 and 1966.Pat Davis, The Guinness Book of Badminton (Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlatives Ltd., 1983) 107. In 1967 he was a member of Malaysia's world champion Thomas Cup (men's international) team. Plagued by back problems he retired from badminton competition in 1969 but soon became one of Malaysia's leading golfers.:ms:Tan Yee Khan He was elected to the World Badminton Hall of Fame in 1998.
Death Tan Yee Khan died on 26 January 2026, at the age of 85.Thomas Cup hero Tan Yee Khan passes away - remembered for golden era of greatness His wake would be held at the VCare Memorial Centre and his cremation rite proceed to take place at the Papan Memorial Park Crematorium in Ipoh, Perak.
Achievements Asian Games Men's doubles YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult1962Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia Ng Boon Bee Tan Joe Hock Liem Tjeng Kiang 15–13, 18–17 Gold1966Kittikachorn Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand Ng Boon Bee Ang Tjin Siang Tjoe Tjong Boon12–15, 15–8, 18–16 Gold
Asian Championships Men's singles YearVenueOpponentScoreResult1965Lucknow, India Sangob Rattanusorn15–12, 13–15, 1–15 Bronze
Men's doubles YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult 1962Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Ng Boon Bee Teh Kew San Lim Say Hup 15–9, 15–10 Gold 1965Lucknow, India Temshakdi Mahakonok Narong Bhornchima Chavalert Chumkum 8–15, 10–15 Silver
Mixed doubles YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult1965Lucknow, India Angela Bairstow Ursula Smith Chavalert Chumkum6–15, 15–3, 15–2 Gold
Southeast Asian Peninsular Games Men's doubles YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult1961Yangon, Myanmar Ng Boon Bee Narong Bhornchima Raphi Kanchanaraphi15–8, 6–15, 15–10 Gold1965Selangor Badminton Hall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Ng Boon Bee Narong Bhornchima Raphi Kanchanaraphi15–8, 15–11 Gold1967Bangkok, Thailand Ng Boon Bee Narong Bhornchima Raphi Kanchanaraphi15–7, 15–8 Gold
Mixed doubles YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult1965Selangor Badminton Hall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Rosalind Singha Ang Ng Boon Bee Teh Siew Yong11–15, 5–15 Silver
Commonwealth Games Men's doubles YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult1966Kingston, Jamaica Ng Boon Bee Tan Aik Huang Yew Cheng Hoe14–15, 5–15 Silver
International tournaments Men's doubles Year TournamentPartner Opponent Score Result1961Malaysia Open Ng Boon Bee George Yap Ong Poh Lim18–15, 15–3 Winner1961Singapore Open Ong Poh Lim Robert Lim Lim Wei Lon9–15, 15–11, 12–15 Runner-up1962Malaysia Open Ng Boon Bee Teh Kew San George Yap8–15, 4–15 Runner-up1963Malaysia Open Ng Boon Bee Teh Kew San Lim Say Hup14–17, 15–9, 15–7 Winner1963Singapore Open Ng Boon Bee Teh Kew San George Yap15–11, 15–17, 15–6 Winner1964Malaysia Open Ng Boon Bee Teh Kew San Lim Say Hup15–7, 15–7 Winner1964Singapore Open Ng Boon Bee Tan Aik Huang Lim Say Hup15–12, 15–6 Winner1965All England Ng Boon Bee Erland Kops Oon Chong Jin 15–7, 15–5 Winner1965Malaysia Open Ng Boon Bee Khor Cheng Chye Lee Guan Chong15–4, 15–5 Winner1965Singapore Open Ng Boon Bee Khor Cheng Chye Lee Guan Chong15–8, 17–14 Winner1966Denmark Open Ng Boon Bee Tan Aik Huang Yew Cheng Hoe15–13, 15–10 Winner1966All England Ng Boon Bee Finn Kobberø Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen9–15, 15–9, 17–15 Winner1966Canadian Open Ng Boon Bee Svend Pri Yew Cheng Hoe12–15, 15–1, 17–14 Winner1966U.S. Open Ng Boon Bee Don Paup Jim Poole15–6, 15–12 Winner1966Singapore Open Khor Cheng Chye Eddy Choong Yew Cheng Hoe13–15, 15–8, 2–15 Runner-up1967Singapore Open Ng Boon Bee Indratno Mintarja15–3, 15–8 Winner1967Denmark Open Ng Boon Bee Svend Pri Per Walsøe8–15, 18–16, 17–15 Winner1967Malaysia Open Ng Boon Bee Indratno Mintarja15–9, 15–10 Winner1968All England Ng Boon Bee Henning Borch Erland Kops 6–15, 4–15 Runner-up1968Malaysia Open Ng Boon Bee Ippei Kojima Issei Nichino11–15, 15–9, 15–9 Winner1968Singapore Open Ng Boon Bee Sangob Rattanusorn Chavalert Chumkum15–9, 15–1 Winner1968German Open Ng Boon Bee Sangob Rattanusorn Chavalert Chumkum15–9, 15–2 Winner1968Northern Indian Punch Gunalan Rudy Hartono Indratno15–3, 6–15, 7–15 Runner-up
Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1966 Perak Open Retno Koestijah Eddy Choong Minarni 15–9, 15–11 Winner
Honours Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (A.M.N.) (1972). Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (P.J.N.) – Datuk (2023). Knight Commander of the Order of the Perak State Crown (D.P.M.P.) – Dato' (2007).
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