# Punch Gunalan

Datuk Punch Gunalan PSD BSD (4 February 1944 – 15 August 2012) was a Malaysian badminton player, who achieved success in both singles and doubles competitions.

## 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 (1970), at the quadrennial Commonwealth Games (1970), and at the Asian Championships (1969). 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 sets to the iconic Rudy Hartono. He also helped Malaysia 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 (now Badminton World Federation). In 1992, as team manager of the Thomas Cup together with Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tan Sri Elyas Omar, Malaysia won the Thomas Cup beating Indonesia.

## Death

Gunalan died on 15 August 2012 in Subang Medical Centre, Subang Jaya, after a short battle against cancer. He was 68.

## Honours
### Honours of Malaysia

* Malaysia :
** Herald of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal Family of Malaysia (BSD) (1988)
** Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal Family of Malaysia (PSD) – Datuk (1992)

## Achievements
### Olympic Games (demonstration)

Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1972 | Olympiapark, Munich, West Germany | Ng Boon Bee | Ade Chandra Christian Hadinata | 4–15, 15–2, 11–15 | Silver |

### Asian Games

Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1970 | Kittikachorn Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | Muljadi | 4–15, 15–3, 15–12 | Gold |
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1970 | Kittikachorn Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | Ng Boon Bee | Junji Honma Shoichi Toganoo | 5–15, 15–8, 15–7 | Gold |

### Asian Championships

Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1969 | Rizal Stadium, Manila, Philippines | Muljadi | 11–15, 3–15 | Silver |
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1969 | Rizal Stadium, Manila, Philippines | Ng Boon Bee | Ippei Kojima Yukinori Hori | 15–8, 5–15, 15–11 | Gold |

### 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 Badminton Stadium, Singapore City, Singapore | Dominic Soong | Sangob Rattanusorn Bandid Jaiyen | 10–15, 15–18 | 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 Badminton Stadium, Singapore City, Singapore | Tan Aik Mong | 15–8, 15–11 | Gold |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1973 | Singapore Badminton Stadium, Singapore City, Singapore | Sylvia Ng | Yeo Ah Seng Tan Chor Kiang | 15–5, 15–6 | 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 | Cowles Stadium, 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 | Cowles Stadium, 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 |
| 1968 | Northern Indian | Tan Yee Khan | Rudy Hartono Indratno | 15–3, 6–15, 7–15 | Runner-up |
| 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 | 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 | Denmark Open | Ng Boon Bee | Rudy Hartono Indra Gunawan | 11–15, 15–4, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1971 | All England | Ng Boon Bee | Rudy Hartono Indra Gunawan | 15–5, 15–3 | Winner |
| 1971 | Canada Open | Ng Boon Bee | Raphi Kanchanaraphi Channarong Ratanaseangsuang | 15–0, 15–11 | Winner |
| 1971 | U.S. Open | Ng Boon Bee | Don Paup Jim Poole | 2–15, 18–13, 15–7 | 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 |