User:LEE 003/sandbox
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nickname | Iron Man of Malaya[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | Malaysian | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | 22 August 1917[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 2 October 2006 (aged 89)[3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Resting place | Nirvana Memorial Park, Semenyih, Selangor. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occupation(s) | Photographer Weightlifter Referee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse | Wong Yoke Lan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children | Ronnie Koh Tony Koh Jerry Koh Maureen Koh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Weightlifting | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retired | 7 February 1958 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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LEE 003/sandbox | |||||||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 辜榮堂 | ||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 辜荣堂 | ||||||||||
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Koh Eng Tong (Chinese: 辜荣堂; 22 August 1917 – 2 October 2006) was an athlete and photographer from Malaysia. Among the first to win the Commonwealth Games gold medal for Malaya, he played an instrumental part in bringing Malaysian sports to world prominence.
Early life
Koh Eng Tong started practicing weightlifting at the age of 14 in his backyard. His brother-in-law used to wield a cane to get Koh to lift the iron weights.
Koh won his first title at the x, where he placed x in the x division after lifting x kg (x lbs).
Sports career
1941
F.M.S. Weight-lifting Championships
In April 1941, a weightlifting competition was held at the Jubilee Park in Ipoh, Perak. The competition was opened to permanent residents of the Federated Malay States.[4]
Koh Eng Tong placed 3rd in the featherweight class after lifting 231 kg (510 lbs).[5]
North Malayan Amateur Junior Weight-lifting Championships
In August 1941, a weightlifting competition for residents of Northern Malaya was held at the New World Amusement Park in George Town, Penang.[6] Koh participated in both featherweight and heavyweight class.[7]
Koh lifted 247.5 kg (545.5 lbs) and placed 2nd in the featherweight class, while in the heavyweight class he lifted 224.5 kg (495.5 lbs) and placed 3rd.[7]
1948 National Games of the Republic of China
The Republic of China decided to hold their 7th National Games in May 1948, after its postponement caused by World War II.[8] Despite financial difficulties, the Malayan Chinese Organising Committee still assembled a contingent to the Games.[9][10] Koh Eng Tong was part of 5 weightlifters sent there.[11][12]
Koh placed 1st in the middleweight class after lifting x kg (x lbs).
1950 British Empire Games
In 1950, Malaya was allowed for the first time to send a contingent to the 1950 British Empire Games held in Auckland, New Zealand.[13] The weightlifters, short of money, were sponsored by Wong Hoi Onn, president of the Selangor Health and Strength Association to participate at the games. They had to fulfill the condition of winning a medal, or they would have to repay their expenses.[2] All 4 weightlifters won medals at the Games.[14]
Koh lifted 310.5 kg (685 lbs) in the featherweight class, winning him the gold medal.[15]
1956 Summer Olympics
Malaya was officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1954. Koh Eng Tong was among a contingent of 33 athletes sent by the Federation of Malaya Olympic Council to participate in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.[16]
6 years removed from his gold medal performance, Koh lifted 285 kg (628 lbs), well off his personal best and finished in 17th place.
1958 Retirement
Koh Eng Tong announced his retirement from competitive weightlifting in 7 February 1958.[17]
19xx International Weightlifting Federation referee
Photography career
In 1950, Koh Eng Tong became the founder and chairman of Eng Tong System Sdn. Bhd., a supplier of professional photographic equipment in Malaysia.
Personal life
Koh Eng Tong reportedly had a habit of burning a joss stick before a competition. He burned a joss stick before his match in the 7th National Games of the Republic of China. He tried to do the same during the 1950 British Empire Games, but found it hard to find in New Zealand.[18]
In 28 October 1993, Koh managed to contact fellow Empire Games gold medallist Tho Fook Hung at The Penang Home for the Infirm and Aged. Tho died a few hours after his visit, with Koh helping the preparation of his funeral.[19]
Koh had donated his Empire Games gold medal to the National Museum.[20] He also donated artifacts and a photo he took of the 1956 Summer Olympics to the Australian Sports Museum.[21][22]
Death
Koh Eng Tong died in 2 October 2006 at the age of 89. He was buried at Nirvana Memorial Park in Semenyih, Selangor.[3]
Honours
World's Top 10
In 1951, Koh Eng Tong was declared the world's 10th best featherweight weightlifter of 1950 by Oscar State, general secretary of the British Amateur Weight Lifters' Association in his book "The Weightlifter and Bodybuilder".[23][24]
Hall of Fame
In 1994, Koh was inducted to the Malaysia Hall of Fame for sportspersons by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM). Koh had also presented to OCM a classic photo taken of him at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne.[1][25]
1998 Commonwealth Games
When Kuala Lumpur hosted the 1998 Commonwealth Games, Koh Eng Tong was honoured by becoming the first runner for the Malaysian leg of the Queen's Baton Relay.[26] He also shared the final run with gymnast Nurul Fatiha Abd Hamid. They handed the baton, containing the Queen's message to Prince Edward as the Queen's representative in place of his father Prince Philip, the Commonwealth Games Federation president.[27]
Order of the Defender of the Realm
In 1999, Koh Eng Tong was conferred Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (Ahli Mangku Negara) (AMN) in conjunction with the 73th birthday of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah.[28][29]
The Malaysia Book Of Records
Koh Eng Tong, along with Tho Fook Hung was included in The Malaysia Book Of Records as the first to win the Commonwealth Games gold medal for Malaya.[30]
See also
Malayan contingent at the 1950 British Empire Games
Weightlifting
- Tho Fook Hung, gold medalist.
- Thong Saw Pak, silver medalist.
- Tan Kim Bee, bronze medalist.
Athletics
References
- ^ a b "Hall of Fame". OCM Sports Museum & Hall of Fame. Olympic Council of Malaysia. 3 June 2010. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
- ^ a b Vijesh Rai (23 August 1998). "Koh, the hero of 1950, celebrates his 79th birthday". New Straits Times. p. 19.
- ^ a b "OBITUARY". The Star. 3 October 2006. p. 52.
- ^ "WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP Contest At Ipoh Jubilee Park". Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle. 1 November 1940. p. 11.
- ^ "WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPS Results Of First Night's Events". Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle. 14 April 1941. p. 11.
- ^ "WEIGHT-LIFTING AT NEW WORLD". Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle. 3 August 1940. p. 12.
- ^ a b "North Malayan Amateur Junior Weight-Lifting". Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle. 4 August 1941. p. 9.
- ^ "CHINA SPORTS MEET IN MAY". The Straits Times. 19 January 1948. p. 8.
- ^ Ken Jalleh (18 April 1948). "MALAYAN PRESTIGE WILL BE UPHELD". The Straits Times. p. 10.
- ^ "DRASTIC CUTS IN TEAMS FOR SHANGHAI". The Straits Times. 6 April 1948. p. 12.
- ^ "Teams For Chinese Olympics Cut". Malaya Tribune. 7 April 1948. p. 6.
- ^ 馬華參加全運會重新分配出發人數一行百卅五人首批廿八動程 [National Games Malayan Chinese participant reassigned, 135-people contingent, first batch departs at 28th]. Nanyang Siang Pau (in Chinese). 24 April 1948. p. 5.
- ^ "'WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW'". The Straits Times. 23 January 1950. p. 8.
- ^ "MALAYAN LIFTERS WIN TITLE WITH KIM BEE'S THIRD". The Straits Times. 8 February 1950. p. 12.
- ^ Groom, Graham (17 October 2017). THE COMPLETE BOOK OF THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES (2018 ed.). Lulu Press. p. 382. ISBN 9789403645131.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Koh Eng Tong Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
- ^ "Two lifters to miss Games". The Straits Times. 8 February 1958. p. 14.
- ^ "£5 for joss stick". The Sun. 2 February 1950. p. 42.
- ^ Lee, Keng Fatt (30 October 1993). "Last reunion for ex-weightlifters". New Straits Times. p. 45.
- ^ Mansoor Rahman (2 June 1994). "Looking back at Koh to shape the future". New Straits Times. p. 45.
- ^ "Koh Eng Tong". Australian Sports Museum.
- ^ Peris, Eric (5 April 1992). "Moments back in time". New Straits Times. p. 22.
- ^ "Fook Hung, Eng Tong in world rankings". The Singapore Free Press. 10 April 1951. p. 6.
- ^ "Oscar State (OBE)" (PDF). British Weight Lifting.
- ^ Tan, Kim Bee. "Weightlifter Tho merits place in Hall of Fame, too". New Straits Times. p. 15.
- ^ Bernama (25 March 1994). "Eng Tong to be first runner for Malaysian leg". New Straits Times. p. 48.
- ^ Carolyn Hong; Randhir Singh (12 September 1998). "Opening a showpiece of our culture". New Straits Times. p. 2.
- ^ SENARAI PENUH PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT PERSEKUTUAN TAHUN 1999. (PDF) (in Malay), Prime Minister's Department Ceremonial and Protocol Section, 1999, p. 37
- ^ "SPORTS AWARDS". New Straits Times. 25 June 1999. p. 42.
- ^ Ooi, Danny (2004). Malaysia Book Of Records - Gold Edition (PDF). The Malaysia Book of Records. p. 213. ISBN 9839949632.
External links
- This article has no link in Wikidata