Tan Yee Khan
Malaysian badminton player (1940–2026)
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Tan Yee Khan PJN DPMP AMN (simplified Chinese: 陈贻权; traditional Chinese: 陳貽權; pinyin: Chén Yíquán; 24 September 1940 – 26 January 2026) was a Malaysian badminton player who represented his country in badminton events around the world during the 1960s.
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| Born | 24 September 1940 Ipoh, Perak, Federated Malay States (now Malaysia) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 26 January 2026 (aged 85) Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 1961–1969 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Malaysia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Badminton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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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),[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] He was elected to the World Badminton Hall of Fame in 1998.[4]
Death
Tan Yee Khan died on 26 January 2026, at the age of 85.[5] 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.[6]
Achievements
Asian Games
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia |  Ng Boon Bee |
 Tan Joe Hock Liem Tjeng Kiang |
15–13, 18–17 |  Gold |
| 1966 | Kittikachorn Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | Ng Boon Bee |
Ang Tjin Siang Tjoe Tjong Boon |
12–15, 15–8, 18–16 | Gold |
Asian Championships
Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Lucknow, India |  Sangob Rattanusorn |
15–12, 13–15, 1–15 |  Bronze |
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Ng Boon Bee |
Teh Kew San Lim Say Hup |
15–9, 15–10 | Gold |
| 1965 | Lucknow, India | Temshakdi Mahakonok |
Narong Bhornchima Chavalert Chumkum |
8–15, 10–15 |  Silver |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Lucknow, India |  Angela Bairstow |
Ursula Smith Chavalert Chumkum |
6–15, 15–3, 15–2 | Gold |
Southeast Asian Peninsular Games
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Yangon, Myanmar | Ng Boon Bee |
Narong Bhornchima Raphi Kanchanaraphi |
15–8, 6–15, 15–10 | Gold |
| 1965 | Selangor Badminton Hall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Ng Boon Bee |
Narong Bhornchima Raphi Kanchanaraphi |
15–8, 15–11 | Gold |
| 1967 | Bangkok, Thailand | Ng Boon Bee |
Narong Bhornchima Raphi Kanchanaraphi |
15–7, 15–8 | Gold |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Selangor Badminton Hall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Rosalind Singha Ang |
Ng Boon Bee Teh Siew Yong |
11–15, 5–15 | Silver |
Commonwealth Games
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Kingston, Jamaica | Ng Boon Bee |
Tan Aik Huang Yew Cheng Hoe |
14–15, 5–15 | Silver |
International tournaments
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Malaysia Open | Ng Boon Bee |
George Yap Ong Poh Lim |
18–15, 15–3 |  Winner |
| 1961 | Singapore Open | Ong Poh Lim |
Robert Lim Lim Wei Lon |
9–15, 15–11, 12–15 |  Runner-up |
| 1962 | Malaysia Open | Ng Boon Bee |
Teh Kew San George Yap |
8–15, 4–15 | Runner-up |
| 1963 | Malaysia Open | Ng Boon Bee |
Teh Kew San Lim Say Hup |
14–17, 15–9, 15–7 | Winner |
| 1963 | Singapore Open | Ng Boon Bee |
Teh Kew San George Yap |
15–11, 15–17, 15–6 | Winner |
| 1964 | Malaysia Open | Ng Boon Bee |
Teh Kew San Lim Say Hup |
15–7, 15–7 | Winner |
| 1964 | Singapore Open | Ng Boon Bee |
Tan Aik Huang Lim Say Hup |
15–12, 15–6 | Winner |
| 1965 | All England | Ng Boon Bee |
 Erland Kops Oon Chong Jin |
15–7, 15–5 | Winner |
| 1965 | Malaysia Open | Ng Boon Bee |
Khor Cheng Chye Lee Guan Chong |
15–4, 15–5 | Winner |
| 1965 | Singapore Open | Ng Boon Bee |
Khor Cheng Chye Lee Guan Chong |
15–8, 17–14 | Winner |
| 1966 | Denmark Open | Ng Boon Bee |
Tan Aik Huang Yew Cheng Hoe |
15–13, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1966 | All England | Ng Boon Bee |
Finn Kobberø Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen |
9–15, 15–9, 17–15 | Winner |
| 1966 | Canadian Open | Ng Boon Bee |
Svend Pri Yew Cheng Hoe |
12–15, 15–1, 17–14 | Winner |
| 1966 | U.S. Open | Ng Boon Bee |
 Don Paup Jim Poole |
15–6, 15–12 | Winner |
| 1966 | Singapore Open | Khor Cheng Chye |
Eddy Choong Yew Cheng Hoe |
13–15, 15–8, 2–15 | Runner-up |
| 1967 | Singapore Open | Ng Boon Bee |
Indratno Mintarja |
15–3, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1967 | Denmark Open | Ng Boon Bee |
Svend Pri Per Walsøe |
8–15, 18–16, 17–15 | Winner |
| 1967 | Malaysia Open | Ng Boon Bee |
Indratno Mintarja |
15–9, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1968 | All England | Ng Boon Bee |
Henning Borch Erland Kops |
6–15, 4–15 | Runner-up |
| 1968 | Malaysia Open | Ng Boon Bee |
 Ippei Kojima Issei Nichino |
11–15, 15–9, 15–9 | Winner |
| 1968 | Singapore Open | Ng Boon Bee |
Sangob Rattanusorn Chavalert Chumkum |
15–9, 15–1 | Winner |
| 1968 | German Open | Ng Boon Bee |
Sangob Rattanusorn Chavalert Chumkum |
15–9, 15–2 | Winner |
| 1968 | Northern Indian | Punch Gunalan |
Rudy Hartono Indratno |
15–3, 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).[7]
- Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (P.J.N.) – Datuk (2023).[8]
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Perak State Crown (D.P.M.P.) – Dato' (2007).[7][9]