Foo Kok Keong

In this Chinese name, the family name is Foo (傅).

Datuk Foo Kok Keong PJN KMN AMN BSD PJK (born 8 January 1963) is a former badminton player from Malaysia who rated among the world's best singles players from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s.^[1] He competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics.^[2]

Foo Kok Keong 傅国强
Personal information
Country	Malaysia
Born	(1963-01-08) 8 January 1963 (age 61) Gombak, Selangor, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	65 kg (143 lb)
Years active	1982–1994
Handedness	Right
Men's singles
Highest ranking	1 (1991)
Medal record Men's badminton Representing  Malaysia World Cup 1989 Guangzhou Men's singles 1992 Guangzhou Men's singles Thomas Cup 1992 Kuala Lumpur Team 1988 Kuala Lumpur Team 1990 Tokyo Team 1994 Jakarta Team 1986 Jakarta Team Commonwealth Games 1990 Auckland Men's singles Asian Games 1990 Beijing Men's team Asian Championships 1994 Shanghai Men's singles 1985 Kuala Lumpur Men's team 1991 Kuala Lumpur Men's singles 1992 Kuala Lumpur Men's singles 1989 Shanghai Men's team 1993 Hong Kong Men's team Southeast Asian Games 1989 Kuala Lumpur Men's team 1991 Manila Men's team 1983 Singapore Men's team 1985 Bangkok Men's team 1987 Jakarta Men's team 1987 Jakarta Men's singles 1989 Kuala Lumpur Men's singles 1991 Manila Men's singles
BWF profile

Foo Kok Keong
Chinese	傅國強
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Fuguóqiáng

Career

Not a stylish looking player, he was noted for his quickness, stamina, and never-say-die tenacity. Kok Keong played for the Malaysian Thomas Cup (men's international) team which finished second to China in 1990, and for the team which defeated Indonesia for the world championship in 1992.

His victories in individual competitions included the Singapore Open and French Open singles titles in 1990, and the Asian Championships singles title in 1994. He was a runner-up in the Malaysia Open (1990, 1991), the British Commonwealth Games (1990),^[3] the World Grand Prix Final (1989),^[4] and the All-England Championships (1991).^[5]

In 1991, Foo Kok Keong became the first Malaysian to reach the number 1 world ranking since the system was implemented by the International Badminton Federation (IBF) in the 80's.

Achievements

World Cup

Men's singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1989	Guangzhou Gymnasium, Guangzhou, China	Yang Yang	14–17, 6–15	Silver
1992	Guangdong Gymnasium, Guangzhou, China	Joko Suprianto	12–15, 2–15	Bronze

Asian Championships

Men's singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1991	Cheras Indoor Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Rashid Sidek	15–4, 11–15, 2–15	Silver
1992	Cheras Indoor Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Rashid Sidek	9–15, 3–15	Silver
1994	Shanghai Gymnasium, Shanghai, China	Liu Jun	15–13, 9–15, 15–3	Gold

Southeast Asian Games

Men's singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1987	Kuningan Hall, Jakarta, Indonesia	Icuk Sugiarto	6–15, 4–15	Bronze
1989	Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Icuk Sugiarto	12–15, 5–15	Bronze
1991	Camp Crame Gymnasium, Manila, Philippines	Ardy Wiranata	4–15, 10–15	Bronze

Commonwealth Games

Men's singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1990	Auckland Badminton Hall, Auckland, New Zealand	Rashid Sidek	8–15, 10–15	Silver

IBF World Grand Prix

The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006.

Men's singles

Year	Tournament	Opponent	Score	Result
1989	Japan Open	Yang Yang	2–15, 10–15	Runner-up
1989	Hong Kong Open	Wu Wenkai	11–15, 11–15	Runner-up
1989	World Grand Prix Finals	Xiong Guobao	11–15, 7–15	Runner-up
1990	French Open	Rashid Sidek	15–11, 18–13	Winner
1990	Malaysia Open	Rashid Sidek	17–18, 6–15	Runner-up
1990	Singapore Open	Zhao Jianhua	15–8, 10–15, 15–9	Winner
1991	All England Open	Ardy Wiranata	12–15, 10–15	Runner-up
1991	Malaysia Open	Rashid Sidek	4–15, 5–15	Runner-up

IBF International

Men's singles

Year	Tournament	Opponent	Score	Result
1990	Australian Open	Ardy Wiranata	9–15, 12–15	Runner-up

Invitational tournament

Men's singles

Year	Tournament	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1988	Asian Invitational Championships	Bandar Lampung, Indonesia	Xiong Guobao	9–15, 5–15	Silver

Honours

•  Malaysia :
  • Herald of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal Family of Malaysia (B.S.D.) (1988)
  • Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (A.M.N.) (1990)
  • Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (K.M.N.) (1992)
  • Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (P.J.N.) – Datuk (2022)
•  Selangor :
  • Recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal (P.J.K.) (1991)^[6]

References

1. "Foo still having a smashing time | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
2. "Foo Kok Keong". Olympedia. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
3. Commonwealth Games Medallists – Court and Table Sports
4. History of World Cup champs [Archive] - Badminton Central Discussion Forums
5. All England Archived 6 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine
6. Selangor MB heads list of Sultan's honours recipients. New Straits Times. 8 March 1991.

External links

• Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Foo Kok Keong". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013.