Datuk Cheah Soon Kit (Current name: Chinese: 謝勛寁; Jyutping: Ze6 Fan1 Zaam2; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chiā Hun-chám / Birth name: Chinese: 謝順吉; Jyutping: Ze6 Seon6 Gat1; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chiā Sūn-kiat) PMW KMN BSD (born 9 January 1968) is a former Malaysian badminton player and coach.[1]
| Cheah Soon Kit | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 謝順吉 | ||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 谢顺吉 | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Career edit
Known for his amazing jumping smashes, Soon Kit was one of the top doubles stars in the world in his heyday. He won the Olympic silver with Yap Kim Hock in Atlanta 1996.[2] Before combining with Kim Hock, Soon Kit’s partner was Soo Beng Kiang and they won numerous international titles, including the 1992 and 1994 World Cup.[3] He was also a vital member of the Malaysian squad that won the Thomas Cup for the first time in 25 years, in a 3-2 victory over Indonesia at the Stadium Negara in 1992.[4]
Coaching edit
Soon Kit was the national women’s doubles coach from 2001 to 2007.[5] He groomed Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui into the country’s top pair. Pei Tty-Eei Hui bagged the SEA Games gold in Manila in 2005 to end a 30-year title drought. They also won the gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.[6] After becoming the head coach for several minor badminton clubs, Soon Kit rejoined the national set-up in 2016 before heading the men’s doubles department in 2017 and was instrumental in grooming the current Malaysia No.1 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik. He left the national setup at the end of 2018.[7]
Achievements edit
Olympic Games edit
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | GSU Sports Arena, Atlanta, United States |  Yap Kim Hock
|
 Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja
|
15–5, 13–15, 12–15 |  Silver
|
World Championships edit
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, England | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Rudy Gunawan Ricky Subagja
|
11–15, 3–15 |  Silver
|
| 1995 | Malley Sports Centre, Lausanne, Switzerland | Yap Kim Hock
|
Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja
|
8–15, 6–15 |  Bronze
|
| 1997 | Scotstoun Centre, Glasgow, Scotland | Yap Kim Hock
|
Sigit Budiarto Candra Wijaya
|
15–8, 17–18, 7–15 | Silver
|
World Cup edit
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Eddy Hartono Rudy Gunawan
|
13–18, 13–18 | Bronze
|
| 1992 | Guangdong Gymnasium, Guangzhou, China | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja
|
15–10, 15–11 |  Gold
|
| 1993 | Indira Gandhi Arena, New Delhi, India | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja
|
9–15, 11–15 | Bronze
|
| 1994 | Phan Dinh Phung Indoor Stadium, | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Rudy Gunawan Bambang Suprianto
|
18–13, 2–15, 17–16 | Gold
|
| 1995 | Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia | Yap Kim Hock
|
Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja
|
13–18, 9–15 | Bronze
|
| 1996 | Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia | Yap Kim Hock
|
Denny Kantono Antonius Ariantho
|
11–15, 15–3, 13–15 | Bronze
|
Asian Games edit
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Tsuru Memorial Gymnasium, Hiroshima, Japan | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja
|
10–15, 2–15 | Silver
|
Asian Championships edit
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Cheras Indoor Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Soo Beng Kiang
|
 Park Joo-bong Kim Moon-soo
|
7–15, 7–15 | Bronze
|
| 1995 | Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, Beijing, China | Yap Kim Hock
|
 Huang Zhanzhong Jiang Xin
|
7–15, 15–8, 15–7 | Gold
|
| 1999 | Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Yap Kim Hock
|
Zhang Jun Zhang Wei
|
16–17, 8–15 | Bronze
|
Asian Cup edit
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja
|
17–16, 15–5 | Gold
|
| 1994 | Beijing Gymnasium, Beijing, China | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja
|
8–15, 7–15 | Silver
|
| 1995 | Xinxing Gymnasium, Qingdao, China | Yap Kim Hock
|
Huang Zhanzhong Jiang Xin
|
10–15, 11–15 | Silver
|
Southeast Asian Games edit
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Camp Crame Gymnasium, Manila, Philippines | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Eddy Hartono Rudy Gunawan
|
7–15, 3–15 | Bronze
|
| 1993 | Singapore Badminton Hall, Singapore | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja
|
15–7, 11–15, 15–7 | Gold
|
| 1995 | Gymnasium 3, 700th Anniversary Sport Complex, Chiang Mai, Thailand |
Yap Kim Hock
|
Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja
|
15–13, 15–9 | Gold
|
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Tan Sui Hoon
|
Aryono Miranat Minarti Timur
|
14–18, 1–15 | Bronze
|
Commonwealth Games edit
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Auckland Badminton Hall, Auckland, New Zealand | Rashid Sidek
|
Razif Sidek Jalani Sidek
|
8–15, 8–15 | Silver
|
| 1994 | McKinnon Gym, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada | Soo Beng Kiang
|
 Simon Archer Chris Hunt
|
15–10, 15–9 | Gold
|
| 1998 | Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Yap Kim Hock
|
Choong Tan Fook Lee Wan Wah
|
7–15, 4–15 | Silver
|
IBF World Grand Prix edit
The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006.
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | World Grand Prix Finals | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Rudy Gunawan Eddy Hartono
|
6–15, 8–15 |  Runner-up
|
| 1991 | Chinese Taipei Open | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Jalani Sidek Razif Sidek
|
7–15, 5–15 | Runner-up
|
| 1991 | Swedish Open | Soo Beng Kiang
|
 Jon Holst-Christensen Thomas Lund
|
18–14, 15–7 |  Winner
|
| 1991 | Thailand Open | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Rudy Gunawan Eddy Hartono
|
3–15, 11–15 | Runner-up
|
| 1992 | Chinese Taipei Open | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Jalani Sidek Tan Kim Her
|
15–7, 15–4 | Winner
|
| 1992 | Malaysia Open | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Chen Hongyong Chen Kang
|
15–12, 15–7 | Winner
|
| 1992 | World Grand Prix Finals | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja
|
11–15, 6–15 | Runner-up
|
| 1993 | Chinese Taipei Open | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Imay Hendra Bagus Setiadi
|
15–3, 15–12 | Winner
|
| 1993 | Malaysia Open | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja
|
7–15, 5–15 | Runner-up
|
| 1993 | Dutch Open | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Jiang Xin Yu Qi
|
15–4, 17–14 | Winner
|
| 1995 | Malaysia Open | Yap Kim Hock
|
 Pramote Teerawiwatana Sakrapee Thongsari
|
15–5, 12–15, 5–15 | Runner-up
|
| 1995 | Thailand Open | Yap Kim Hock
|
Huang Zhanzhong Jiang Xin
|
9–15, 11–15 | Runner-up
|
| 1995 | World Grand Prix Finals | Yap Kim Hock
|
Rudy Gunawan Bambang Suprianto
|
13–18, 15–2, 15–12 | Winner
|
| 1996 | Korea Open | Yap Kim Hock
|
Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja
|
5–15, 14–15 | Runner-up
|
| 1996 | All England Open | Yap Kim Hock
|
Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja
|
6–15, 5–15 | Runner-up
|
| 1996 | Malaysia Open | Yap Kim Hock
|
Choong Tan Fook Lee Wan Wah
|
15–5, 15–3 | Winner
|
| 1996 | US Open | Yap Kim Hock
|
Sigit Budiarto Candra Wijaya
|
16–18, 10–15 | Runner-up
|
| 1996 | Hong Kong Open | Yap Kim Hock
|
Antonius Ariantho Denny Kantono
|
6–15, 3–15 | Runner-up
|
| 1996 | World Grand Prix Finals | Yap Kim Hock
|
Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja
|
4–15, 9–15 | Runner-up
|
| 1997 | Korea Open | Yap Kim Hock
|
Ha Tae-kwon Kang Kyung-jin
|
15–4, 13–15, 5–15 | Runner-up
|
| 1997 | World Grand Prix Finals | Yap Kim Hock
|
Sigit Budiarto Candra Wijaya
|
15–17, 15–11, 5–15 | Runner-up
|
| 1998 | Japan Open | Yap Kim Hock
|
Antonius Ariantho Denny Kantono
|
15–9, 15–7 | Winner
|
| 1998 | Dutch Open | Choong Tan Fook
|
 Peter Axelsson Pär-Gunnar Jönsson
|
15–11, 15–9 | Winner
|
| 1999 | Chinese Taipei Open | Choong Tan Fook
|
Antonius Ariantho Denny Kantono
|
4–15, 17–14, 8–15 | Runner-up
|
| 1999 | Hong Kong Open | Yap Kim Hock
|
Sigit Budiarto Halim Haryanto
|
15–12, 15–12 | Winner
|
| 2000 | Chinese Taipei Open | Yap Kim Hock
|
Tony Gunawan Candra Wijaya
|
7–15, 7–15 | Runner-up
|
IBF International edit
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Canada Open | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Ahn Jae-chang Choi Ji-tae
|
15–4, 15–4 | Winner
|
| 1992 | US Open | Soo Beng Kiang
|
Thomas Lund Jens Olsson
|
15–9, 15–11 | Winner
|
Honours edit
Honours of Malaysia edit
Malaysia :
Herald of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal Family of Malaysia (BSD) (1988)[8]
Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (1992)[8]
Federal Territory (Malaysia) :
Knight Commander of the Order of the Territorial Crown (PMW) – Datuk (2021)[9][10]
References edit
- ^ Talkah, Oleh Helmi (10 December 2018). "Kontrak Soon Kit, 3 jurulatih tak disambung". BH Online (in Malay). Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- ^ "Switch that turned on the power". The Star. 25 December 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ "Badminton: Switch that turned on the power | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ "The long, memorable road to victory | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ "Badminton: Soon Kit's the man for BAM to revive doubles fortunes | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ "Badminton: Soon Kit ready to restore Malaysian badminton to former glory | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ "Badminton: Kejian the latest to join exodus of coaches from BAM | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat". Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ^ "Seramai 335 terima darjah kebesaran sempena Hari Wilayah". Berita Harian (in Malay). 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ "Rashid, Soon Kit dapat gelaran Datuk". Berita Harian (in Malay). 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
External links edit
- Soon Kit CHEAH at BWF.tournamentsoftware.com (alternate link)
- Soon Kit CHEAH at BWFbadminton.com
- Cheah Soon Kit at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
