Datuk Teh Kew San (郑求山) (26 January 1935 – 14 May 2026) was a Malaysian badminton player who won national and international titles from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s.
Career An "all-rounder" (player competitive in all three events: singles, doubles, and mixed doubles), his greatest successes came in men's doubles with Lim Say Hup. They won a number of major international tournaments on three continents, most notably the prestigious All-England title in 1959.Pat Davis, The Guinness Book of Badminton (Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. 1983) 107. Kew San's singles titles included the Mexico City International in 1960 and the Asian Championship in 1962.Herbert Scheele ed. The International Badminton Federation Handbook for 1967 (Canterbury, Kent, England: J. A. Jennings Ltd. 1967) 232, 309. Known for his agility and deft racket work, he was a member of four consecutive Malayan/Malaysian Thomas Cup teams (1958, 1961, 1964, 1967), captaining the last which captured the world team title.Pat Davis, The Guinness Book of Badminton (Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. 1983) 123, 124.
Personal life and death Teh was born in Colony of Penang, Straits Settlements, Malaya on 26 January 1935. He married his national mixed doubles partner, Ng Mei Ling and they had two children, a son (Thomas) and a daughter (Karen).
On 14 May 2026, Teh died due to complications from a urinary tract infection. He was 91.
Achievements
Asian Games Men's singles YearVenueOpponentScoreResult1962Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia Tan Joe Hock 9–15, 3–15 Silver
Mixed doubles YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult1966Kittikachorn Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand Rosalind Singha Ang Eddy Choong Tan Gaik Bee18–13, 11–15, 15–5 Gold
Asian Championships Men's singles YearVenueOpponentScoreResult1962Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Federation of Malaya Billy Ng 7–15, 15–1, 15–10 Gold
Men's doubles YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult 1962Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Federation of Malaya Lim Say Hup Ng Boon Bee Tan Yee Khan 9–15, 10–15 Silver
Southeast Asian Peninsular Games Men's singles YearVenueOpponentScoreResult1961Rangoon, Burma Vondeune Walkover Bronze
International tournaments Men's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result1958Malaya Open Charoen Wattanasin9–15, 4–15 Runner-up1959Malaysia Open Charoen Wattanasin11–15, 12–15 Runner-up1960Mexico International Finn Kobberø15–7, 15–7 Winner1963Singapore Open Yew Cheng Hoe11–15, 15–3, 15–1 Winner
Men's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result1957Malaya Open Lim Say Hup Lai Fook Ying F.A.L. Gonzaga15–2, 15–5 Winner1959All England Lim Say Hup Henning Borch Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen15–12, 15–10 Winner1959Canada Open Lim Say Hup Thanoo Khadjadbhye Charoen Wattanasin10–15, 15–13, 15–13 Winner1959US Open Lim Say Hup Joe Alston Wynn Rogers15–5, 15–3 Winner1959Malaya Open Lim Say Hup Eddy Choong Erland Kops15–11, 15–9 Winner1960All England Lim Say Hup Finn Kobberø Poul-Erik Nielsen17–14, 3–15, 1–15 Runner-up1960Mexico International Lim Say Hup Joe Alston Manuel Armendariz15–7, 15–4 Winner1960Malaya Open Lim Say Hup Tan King Gwan Njoo Kiem Bie6–15, 15–11, 15–6 Winner 1960 Canada Open Lim Say Hup Charoen Wattanasin Ferry Sonneville 15–8, 15–8 Winner1962Malaya Open George Yap Ng Boon Bee Tan Yee Khan15–8, 15–4 Winner1963Malaya Open Lim Say Hup Ng Boon Bee Tan Yee Khan17–14, 9–15, 7–15 Runner-up1963Singapore Open George Yap Ng Boon Bee Tan Yee Khan11–15, 17–15, 6–15 Runner-up1964Malaysia Open Lim Say Hup Ng Boon Bee Tan Yee Khan7–15, 7–15 Runner-up1966Penang Open Yew Cheng Hoe Ang Tjin Siang Rudy Nio15–0, 15–0 Winner
Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result1962Malaya Open Ng Mei Ling Ng Boon Bee Tan Gaik Bee15–11, 15–12 Winner1965Malaysia Open Ng Mei Ling Eddy Choong Rosalind Singha Ang15–10, 15–7 Winner1968Malaysia Open Ng Mei Ling Svend Andersen Eva Twedberg17–18, 13–15 Runner-up
Invitational Tournaments Men's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 1959 World Invitational Championships Charoen Wattanasin 1–15, 7–15 Silver
Men's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1959 World Invitational Championships Lim Say Hup Berndt Dahlberg Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen 15–13, 18–15 Gold
Honours Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) (1968). Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (PJN) – Datuk (2023).
References