Punch Gunalan
Punch Gunalan was a Malaysian badminton star, one of the finest combination doubles and singles players that the country has ever produced.
Badminton career
Gunalan was a talented right-hander who spent what might have been some of the best years of his playing career competing only sporadically as a student in England.In early 70s, Gunalan and his partner, Ng Boon Bee became the leading men's doubles team in the world. They captured gold at the biennial Asian Games, at the quadrennial Commonwealth Games, and at the Asian Championships. They captured the venerable All England title in 1971.
Though perhaps less consistent in singles than he was in doubles, Gunalan was capable of playing it at the highest level. He reached the All-England singles final in 1974, losing in three close games to the iconic Rudy Hartono. He also helped Malaysia to reach the Thomas Cup final in 1970. He is the only Malaysian to capture gold medals in both men's singles and men's doubles at the Sea Games, the Commonwealth Games, and the Asian Games.
Post-retirement
After retiring as a player in 1974 Gunalan served in various stints as coach of the Malaysian team, an official in the Malaysian Badminton Association and as an official in the International Badminton Federation. In 1992, as team manager of the Thomas Cup together with Badminton Association of Malaysia president Tan Sri Elyas Omar, Malaysia won the Thomas Cup beating Indonesian.Achievements
Olympic Games (demonstration)
Men's doubles| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1972 | Munich, West Germany |  Ng Boon Bee |  Ade Chandra Christian Hadinata | 4–15, 15–2, 11–15 | Silver |
Asian Games
Men's doubles| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1970 | Indoor Stadium Huamark, Bangkok, Thailand | Ng Boon Bee |  Junji Honma Shoichi Toganoo | Gold |
Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1970 | Indoor Stadium Huamark, Bangkok, Thailand | Muljadi | 4–15, 15–3, 15–12 | Gold |
Asian Championships
Men's doubles| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1969 | Manila, Philippines | Ng Boon Bee | Ippei Kojima Yukinori Hori | 15–8, 5–15, 15–11 | Gold |
Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1969 | Manila, Philippines | Muljadi | 11–15, 3–15 | Silver |
Southeast Asian Peninsular Games
Men's doubles| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1969 | Yangon, Myanmar | Yew Cheng Hoe |  Thongchai Phongful Singha Siribanterng | Gold | |
| 1971 | Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Ng Boon Bee | Ng Tat Wai Ho Khim Kooi | Gold | |
| 1973 | Singapore, Singapore | Dominic Soong | Sangob Rattanusorn Bandid Jaiyen | Silver |
Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1969 | Yangon, Myanmar | Soon Akayapisud | Gold | |
| 1971 | Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Tan Aik Huang | 12–15, 11–15 | Silver |
| 1973 | Singapore, Singapore | Tan Aik Mong | Gold |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1973 | Singapore, Singapore | Sylvia Ng | Bronze |
Commonwealth Games
Men's doubles| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1970 | Edinburgh, Scotland | Ng Boon Bee | Ng Tat Wai Tan Soon Hoi | 15–3, 15–3 | Gold |
| 1974 | Christchurch, New Zealand | Dominic Soong |  Bob McCoig Fraser Gow | 17–18, 15–5, 15–7 | Bronze |
Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1974 | Christchurch, New Zealand |  Jamie Paulson | 15–1, 15–6 | Gold |
International tournaments
Men's doubles| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1966 | Dutch Open | Oon Chong Hau |  Knud Aage Nielsen Elo Hansen | 15–4, 15–4 | Winner |
| 1969 | Singapore Pesta | Ng Boon Bee | Indratno Mintarja | 15–5, 15–5 | Winner |
| 1969 | U.S. Open | Ng Boon Bee | Ippei Kojima Channarong Ratanaseangsuang | 15–3, 15–7 | Winner |
| 1971 | All England | Ng Boon Bee | Rudy Hartono Indra Gunawan | 15–5, 15–3 | Winner |
| 1971 | U.S. Open | Ng Boon Bee |  Don Paup Jim Poole | 2–15, 18–13, 15–7 | Winner |
| 1971 | Denmark Open | Ng Boon Bee | Rudy Hartono Indra Gunawan | 11–15, 15–4, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1971 | Poona Open | Ng Boon Bee | Lee Kok Pheng Lim Shook Kong | 15–4, 15–5 | Winner |
| 1971 | German Open | Ng Boon Bee |  Roland Maywald Willi Braun | 15–12, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1971 | Canada Open | Ng Boon Bee | Raphi Kanchanaraphi Channarong Ratanaseangsuang | 15–0, 15–11 | Winner |
| 1972 | Denmark Open | Ng Boon Bee | Sangob Rattanusorn Bandid Jaiyen | 15–6, 15–6 | Winner |
| 1972 | German Open | Ng Boon Bee |  Derek Talbot Elliot Stuart | 15–9, 15–12 | Winner |
| 1972 | Singapore Open | Ng Boon Bee | Tan Aik Huang Tan Aik Mong | 11–15, retired | Runner-up |
| 1974 | Scottish Open | Tom Bacher | Mike Tredgett Ray Stevens | Winner |
Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1974 | All England | Rudy Hartono | 15–8, 9–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
Honours
Honours of Malaysia
- :
- * Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm
- * Herald of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal Family of Malaysia
- * Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal Family of Malaysia - Datuk
Death