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An Article From The Michaelian - The Thomas Cup In St Michael’s Institution
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Subject :An Article from The Michaelian - The Thomas Cup in St Michael’s Institution
Published By : The Michaelian 1949, Author Wong Sai Heng
Location : Ipoh
Estimated Year : 1949
Media Type : Photograph
Source : Brother Vincent Corkery, SMI, Ipoh
Remark : The images above and text below are taken from an article by Wong Sai Heng (Standard VIIIA) and published in the St Michael’s Institution 1949 Magazine, “The Michaelian”. 1949 was the first year that the Thomas Cup was made an International World Team Championship for Men. Prior to that it was an International Trophy awarded to the top Men’s Singles Badminton Championship. It was donated in 1939 by Sir George Thomas, formerly a British Lawn Tennis champion who moved over to Badminton and won 90 championships in 24 years.
The article reads:
The Thomas Cup in St Michael’s Institution
"The 14th of June, 1949, will long be remembered as a day of rejoicing for on that day, the Thomas Cup, the most prized trophy of International Badminton, was brought to the School and a number of the Cup Players honoured us with a visit.
On hearing about the intended visit of Ooi Teik Hock, the Malayan Champion and the World's No. 2 Badminton Player, and Wong Peng Soon, his close second, the whole school was very excited and happy. Though we had seen them in pictures and read much about them in newspapers and magazines, we had not yet met them face to face, much less had we had the pleasure of talking to them.
On the morning of their visit, we could scarcely control our excitement. As a great surprise, our Brother Director brought in Mr. Wong Peng Soon to our class. He was a medium-built man, mild-looking and affable in manner, with no external signs of being a great champion. Our joy was unbounded at seeing the world's third best Badminton singles player. How we fired questions at him about the Thomas Cup and the Malayan Players' achievements! He was a cool man and withstood our barrage all right. Ooi Teik Hock was to have come with him. We learnt, however, that he had been unable to come owing to illness and his absence caused no slight disappointment.
At 10 o'clock, the whole school was assembled in the hall to give the victorious Cup Players a public reception. The school Rally was sung as they entered, carrying the Thomas Cup with them. All eyes were fixed on the Cup and on the Players. The visitors were accommodated on the stage. The Rev Bro Director, in a few words, welcomed the Players and other visitors and then called upon Mr. Tan Cheng Phor, President of the Perak Badminton Association, to say a few words. Mr Cheng Phor said that he hoped the bringing of the Cup and the visit of the Players would stimulate the boys to greater efforts in the game so as to help make sure of another Malayan victory in the next Thomas Cup Tournament.
The players were then introduced to us by name, one by one. Each of them was given a thunderous ovation by the assembly. The announcement that Chan Kon Leong had been a St Michael's boy was greeted with renewed applause. When it was announced that school would then close for the day in honour of the visitors, the boys cheered themselves hoarse.
The boys stayed on after the dismissal. Autograph-hunters crowded round the players to get their autographs. Others flocked to see the Cup. There was a short break when the Cuppers sat down to have their photographs taken. But as soon as they were free, they were again mobbed by the boys.
As I left the school, I could see autograph-hunters waiting for the players who were being served with refreshments by the Bro Director. Crowds still stood round, discussing the events of the day. As I cycled out of the school gate, I thought to myself that the resounding Malayan victory in International Badminton had not only given us, the rising generation of Malaya, a consciousness of our power in sporting pursuits but also provided us with a stimulus to greater efforts in other directions."
Wong Sai Heng
Standard VIIIA
To read more about St Michael’s Institution, click here.
The article reads:
"The 14th of June, 1949, will long be remembered as a day of rejoicing for on that day, the Thomas Cup, the most prized trophy of International Badminton, was brought to the School and a number of the Cup Players honoured us with a visit.
On hearing about the intended visit of Ooi Teik Hock, the Malayan Champion and the World's No. 2 Badminton Player, and Wong Peng Soon, his close second, the whole school was very excited and happy. Though we had seen them in pictures and read much about them in newspapers and magazines, we had not yet met them face to face, much less had we had the pleasure of talking to them.
On the morning of their visit, we could scarcely control our excitement. As a great surprise, our Brother Director brought in Mr. Wong Peng Soon to our class. He was a medium-built man, mild-looking and affable in manner, with no external signs of being a great champion. Our joy was unbounded at seeing the world's third best Badminton singles player. How we fired questions at him about the Thomas Cup and the Malayan Players' achievements! He was a cool man and withstood our barrage all right. Ooi Teik Hock was to have come with him. We learnt, however, that he had been unable to come owing to illness and his absence caused no slight disappointment.
At 10 o'clock, the whole school was assembled in the hall to give the victorious Cup Players a public reception. The school Rally was sung as they entered, carrying the Thomas Cup with them. All eyes were fixed on the Cup and on the Players. The visitors were accommodated on the stage. The Rev Bro Director, in a few words, welcomed the Players and other visitors and then called upon Mr. Tan Cheng Phor, President of the Perak Badminton Association, to say a few words. Mr Cheng Phor said that he hoped the bringing of the Cup and the visit of the Players would stimulate the boys to greater efforts in the game so as to help make sure of another Malayan victory in the next Thomas Cup Tournament.
The players were then introduced to us by name, one by one. Each of them was given a thunderous ovation by the assembly. The announcement that Chan Kon Leong had been a St Michael's boy was greeted with renewed applause. When it was announced that school would then close for the day in honour of the visitors, the boys cheered themselves hoarse.
The boys stayed on after the dismissal. Autograph-hunters crowded round the players to get their autographs. Others flocked to see the Cup. There was a short break when the Cuppers sat down to have their photographs taken. But as soon as they were free, they were again mobbed by the boys.
As I left the school, I could see autograph-hunters waiting for the players who were being served with refreshments by the Bro Director. Crowds still stood round, discussing the events of the day. As I cycled out of the school gate, I thought to myself that the resounding Malayan victory in International Badminton had not only given us, the rising generation of Malaya, a consciousness of our power in sporting pursuits but also provided us with a stimulus to greater efforts in other directions."
Standard VIIIA
To read more about St Michael’s Institution, click here.
Filename : 20090405-008