This work is originally published by Cahya Mata Sarawak. DayakDaily has been given permission to share this story on our platforms.
By Martin Yee, Kenny Ee, and Marlynda Meraw
FROM the quiet riverine town of Sibu, a woman emerges with a heart, skill, and great determination that would lead her to someday captain the national basketball team of Malaysia. Lim Hoon Eng’s path was one nurtured by family and sealed with the hard work that would form her exceptional career.
Basketball coursed through her veins from the very beginning. Born into a family of basketball players, it was natural for Hoon Eng to follow in their footsteps. Her father, Lim Beng Chuan, was not only her first coach but also a former national player for Sarawak.
Her mother had also represented the nation, and her two brothers—both towering at over six feet—as well as her two sisters, all shared the family’s passion for the game. Despite the rich sporting environment she grew up in, Hoon Eng’s path to the basketball court was not immediate.
In her early schooling years, basketball was not offered at either Chung Tsing Primary School or Sibu’s Catholic High School, leaving her love for the game to bloom later than most. It wasn’t until she attended Methodist Secondary School in Sibu at 17 that she began to play basketball seriously.
At this significant moment, her father stepped in as her coach, having recognised his daughter’s potential and height advantage at 5 feet 10 inches; a rare asset for a female basketball player in those days. Under his guidance, Hoon Eng honed her skills, driven by a mix of familial pride and personal ambition.
Her talent soon became undeniable. From 1982 to 1989, she captained the Sarawak team, with her leadership and prowess on the court earning her the role of captain for the national team. In 1985, she led Malaysia to victory at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, securing the gold medal—a shining moment for the nation. She also represented Malaysia at the 14th SEA Games in Jakarta in 1987. However, at the 1989 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, her team narrowly lost to Thailand by a single point in the final.
Beyond the SEA Games, Hoon Eng’s international presence grew. In 1986, she played at the Asian Games in Korea, where her team’s commendable fourth-place finish was celebrated as one of the best performances in Malaysia’s history. She also competed in the 1988 Pre-Olympics and the 1990 Pre-World Cup, both held in Malaysia. Her international experience included playing in the prestigious R. William Jones
Basketball Tournament in Taipei in 1985 and 1988, as well as the Open Invitational World Championship in New Delhi in 1986.
Her years with the national team were filled with both triumphs and challenges.
“I think I am the only one from Sarawak to have captained the national side,” she reflected with pride. As captain for two years and vice-captain for one, she not only represented Malaysia but carried the hopes of Sarawak.
“I was tall enough and a hardworking player,” she modestly said, though her success was the result of years of dedication and the foundation her father laid through her late start in training.
“During my time with the national team, the team was strong.”
Basketball extended beyond her professional achievements and into her personal life. She married fellow basketballer Tiong Chiong Ming, who played for the Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) in Government Services Sports (MAKSAK) and also represented Malaysia on the international stage. Together, they formed a bond over their shared love for the game.
In recognition of her contributions, Hoon Eng was honoured with numerous accolades. In 1988, she was awarded the prestigious national title of Best Sportswoman of the Year, for her outstanding performance and leadership. She also received the Agong’s Cup Best Player award. In 2010, the Sarawak government conferred upon her the Member of the Order of the Star (ABS), a tribute to her longstanding dedication and excellence in the sport she so loves.
In 1991, as she entered a new chapter in her life—marriage and motherhood—Hoon Eng decided to retire from competitive basketball. That same year, she transitioned from player to mentor, joining the Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) as a coach, determined to nurture the next generation of athletes.
From the quiet shores of Sibu to the international stage, Hoon Eng carved out a legacy of hoops and hearts that continues to inspire those who follow in her footsteps. Her journey reminds us that greatness is not just about winning medals, but about the spirit with which one plays the game—and the heart that drives it all. –DayakDaily
