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
IN the realm of badminton, very few remember the era when racquets were wooden, incentives were non-existent, and open courts lit with fluorescent lights were the battleground for the finest players. In that time, between the 1950s and 1970s, a silent champion surfaced from Sarawak—a man who, though never a national player, engraved his name into Sarawak’s sporting history.
Lim Khiok Seng, unheralded but undoubtedly one of the State’s finest, belonged to an elite class where instruction, expertise, and strength of will defined greatness.
Born in 1934, Khiok Seng’s journey began in an era when badminton was played under the sun or at the iconic Happy World Stadium in Padungan, where enthusiasts gathered to witness the local stars. There were no grand arenas, no television cameras, and no lucrative prizes.
Yet, it was in these humble settings that Khiok Seng carved his legend. His reign as Sarawak’s singles champion stretched over three decades—from the 1950s, through the 1960s, until his final victory in 1979 at the age of 45. His longevity and resilience were not a fluke, but the mark of a true maestro of the sport.
Khiok Seng’s debut came in 1953 when he played for the Kuching team in the Inter-Division Championship. It was then that he tasted his first triumph, winning his first singles title. From there onwards, he continued his dominance—claiming the Sarawak singles title in 1954, 1959, and throughout the 1970s, until his final title in 1979.
His excellence wasn’t just confined to singles; between 1964 and 1968, he dominated the doubles courts as well, making his name synonymous with victory in Sarawak. For nearly 25 years, Khiok Seng was Sarawak’s undisputed king of badminton, his reign defying both time and challengers.
Yet, for all his dominance, Khiok Seng’s career held a bittersweet undercurrent. In 1969, when the Thomas Cup trainees visited Sarawak, they saw in him a player worthy of the national stage. At 35, past his prime but still dazzling on the court, Khiok Seng was invited to train with the national squad in Kuala Lumpur.
For three months, he sharpened his skills, absorbing the tactical knowledge that would refine his game. But age was a cruel companion—though his skills impressed, time had worn away the edge of youth, and the Thomas Cup squad moved forward without him. Khiok Seng’s dream of playing for the nation never materialised, but he was content, having learned and grown in those precious months of training.
Ironically, it was a 1949 exhibition match in Kuching that had first sparked Khiok Seng’s badminton dreams. Ong Poh Lim, the world-famous player known for his ‘Crocodile Serves’ had left an indelible mark on the young Khiok Seng. Like him, Poh Lim had been inspired by past players, part of a lineage of excellence that spanned decades. Khiok Seng carried that spark into his long career, nurturing it into a flame that would burn brightly on the courts of Sarawak.
As a member of the Ding Ding Club, which held matches at an outdoor court built by the Wee Clan at Pig Lane (now renamed Jalan Park Lane), Khiok Seng honed his craft. His rivals, like Abang Shukori and Lim Ee Chiat, were formidable, but none could dethrone the king. Khiok Seng represented Sarawak with pride, playing in the Borneo Cup and Malaysian Open, and stood among Sarawak’s finest at the inaugural Asian Badminton Championships in Kuala Lumpur in 1962.
Although Sarawak finished second in the losers’ pool behind Taiwan, Khiok Seng’s name was whispered among the people as Sarawak’s badminton elite shuttlers.
While national glory remained elusive, he never failed to give the best players of then-Malaya a tough fight. His battles on the court, even when outmatched, were always marked by grit and determination. He was awarded the Faithful and Meritorious Service Medal (SKN) in 1970 and the Herald of the Order of the Star of Sarawak (BBS) in 1979, tributes to his dedication and excellence.
During his youth, Khiok Seng had been more than just a badminton player. As a student at St. Thomas, he participated in athletics and played football in the local Kuching football league while working for Post and Telegraphs (P&T).
His father, Freddie Lim, was a renowned footballer, and that sporting pedigree ran deep in Khiok Seng’s veins. His diverse athletic background contributed to the speed, dexterity, and powerful legs that made him a force on the badminton court. His training regimen, five to six days a week, was gruelling, but necessary, especially before tournaments.
Khiok Seng’s final bow came in his 50s, facing off against the young rising star Abdul Rahman Hassan, who was only 19 at the time. It was a passing of the torch, as the young talent succeeded Khiok Seng as Sarawak’s next great player.
His journey was one not only of wooden racquets and fluorescent-lit courts. It spoke volumes of tenacity, of an unheralded champion who never quite reached the national stage, yet still reigned supreme in the hearts of his fellow Sarawakians. In every match he played, in every victory and defeat, Khiok Seng exemplified the mettle of a true sportsman—a legacy that remains timeless. –DayakDaily
