KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian hockey legend Wong Choon Hin died today at the age of 75.
The two-time Olympian and two-time World Cupper from Melaka had not been feeling well and was admitted to a hospital in Sg Buloh.
Choon Hin, who played as a centre half, was the captain of the national team from 1976-77, and represented Malaysia 80 times.
Choon Hin featured in the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal Olympics and also played in the 1973 World Cup in Amstelveen, the Netherlands and 1975 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, in which Malaysia finished a remarkable fourth.
He also played in two Asian Games – in Bangkok in 1970 and in the 1974 Tehran Asian Games (Malaysia won bronze).
Choon Hin started in athletics before venturing into cricket, table tennis, badminton, football and hockey.
In 1976, he was named the Selangor Sportsman of the Year. He was inducted into the Olympic Council of Malaysia Hall of Fame in 2004.
Former Malaysia captain Datuk Sri Shanmuganathan said Choon Hin was a wonderful person.
“He was a dedicated player and we had high respect for him, as he could marshal the midfield well. He was also involved in the penalty corner battery as a stopper.
“He had contributed a lot to hockey. I first met him in 1970 when he was named for the Bangkok Asian Games. He was a quiet person but a very pleasant one.
“We definitely are going to miss him,” said Shanmuganathan, who was the skipper of the 1975 World Cup team.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
