Koh Eng Tong

Koh Eng Tong was a Straits Chinese of Cantonese ancestry born in Seremban, Negri Sembilan.^[2]

In 1937, Koh started weigh training while he was still a 17-year-old student in Kuala Lumpur, after being encouraged by his brother-in-law. In 1941, Koh returned to Seremban to organise the Adonis Bodybuilding Club there.^[3][4]

In the same year, Koh earned his first title at the Selangor weightlifting competition, where he won the featherweight gold medal after lifting 226.5 kg (500 lbs).^[3]

The Republic of China decided to hold their 7th National Games in May 1948, after its postponement caused by World War II.^[5] Despite financial difficulties, the Malayan Chinese Organising Committee still assembled a contingent to the Games.^[6][7] Koh Eng Tong was part of 5 weightlifters sent there.^[8][9]

Koh won the middleweight title after lifting 297.5 kg (656 lbs).^[10]

In 1950, Malaya was allowed for the first time to send a contingent to the 1950 British Empire Games held in Auckland, New Zealand.^[11] 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 fulfil the condition of winning a medal, or they would have to repay their expenses.^[12] All 4 weightlifters medalled.^[13]

Koh lifted 310.5 kg (685 lbs) in the featherweight category, winning him the gold medal.^[14]

Malaya was officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1954. Koh Eng Tong was among a contingent of 32 athletes sent by the Federation of Malaya Olympic Council to participate in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.^[15]

Representing Malaya in the featherweight category, Koh lifted 285 kg (628 lbs), well off his personal best and finished in 17th place.^[16][17] He attributed his disappointing performance to him feeling numb out of coldness.^[18]

Koh Eng Tong announced his retirement from competitive weightlifting on 7 February 1958.^[19]

Koh Eng Tong was an avid photographer. He had established multiple photography businesses over the years.^[20][21] He also briefly worked as a press photographer with The Straits Times as well.^[22]

In 1950, Koh became the founder and chairman of Eng Tong Systems Sdn. Bhd., a supplier of professional photographic equipment in Malaysia.^[20] The family-run business still functions today.^[23]

Koh Eng Tong was an official of the Selangor Health and Strength Association and a qualified international weightlifting referee.^[19][20]

He had damaged his vocal cords during weightlifting, leaving him with a hoarse voice ever since.^[24]

He reportedly had a habit of burning joss sticks before competitions. 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.^[25]

Koh managed to contact fellow Empire Games gold medallist Tho Fook Hung at The Penang Home for the Infirm and Aged on 28 October 1993. Tho died a few hours after his visit, with Koh helping the preparation of his funeral.^[26]

He had donated his Empire Games gold medal to the National Museum.^[27] He also donated artifacts and a photo he took of the 1956 Summer Olympics to the Australian Sports Museum.^[28][22]

Koh Eng Tong died on 2 October 2006 at the age of 89. He was buried at Nirvana Memorial Park in Semenyih, Selangor.^[29]

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".^[30][31]

In 1994, Koh was inducted to the Malaysia Hall of Fame for sportspersons by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).^[32] Koh had also presented to OCM a classic photo taken of him at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne.^[1][33]

When Kuala Lumpur hosted the 1998 Commonwealth Games, Koh was honoured by becoming the final runner for the Queen's Baton Relay. His run was also shared 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.^[34]

In 1999, Koh was conferred Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (Ahli Mangku Negara) (AMN) in conjunction with the 73rd birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah.^[35][36]

In 1999, the Olympic Council of Malaysia had acknowledged Koh Eng Tong, Eddy Chong, Mani Jegathesan, Mokhtar Dahari and Lall Singh as Malaysia's best athletes of the 20th Century.^[37]

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.^[38]