As we all know, Malaysia & Singapore share many ties of kinship and from 1963 to 1965, were even one country.
Hence, this post pays tribute to the common history and the subsequent development of basketball in Malaysia (Malaya) & Singapore, so that we may be able to honour the past.
Origins of The Game
Basketball dates back to 1891 and the international YMCA training school in Boston, where Dr James Naismith first devised the sport as an indoor game, suitable to be played during the winter months. The first ever game was played with a soccer ball and two raised peach baskets used as goals.
But 24 years before that - in 1912 -basketball was already played competitively at the Far East Athletic Championship Games (FEA) - the predecessor of the modern day Asian Games - as the sport had been brought to Asia (Philippines, Japan & China) by American missionaries.
Basketball arrives in Malaya & Singapore
Malaya & Singapore circa 1920s
Interestingly, Basketball was introduced to the Chinese schools in the early 1920s, by teachers from China. It became even more popular when university and club teams from China & Hong Kong began to play regular exhibition matches throughout Malaya in the 1930s and in no time, it became one of the most popular sports amongst the sizeable Chinese community.
Local Development
Throughout the 1930s and for many decades after, one man relentlessly promoted basketball amongst the local Chinese, primarily via the Singapore Chinese Amateur Athletic Federation (SCAAF), a sports body sponsored by all the Chinese dialect associations in Singapore.
Goh Chye Hin (吳再興) was born in Singapore and had his primary education at Tao Nan School. His father sent him to Amoy, China for studies at Chip Bee High School and then at Amoy University. His sporting prowess showed early, as he represented Fujian province and then China in athletics competitions, winning a string of medals.
After the war, he was president of the Singapore Amateur Basketball Federation (the precursor to the Basketball Association of Singapore) for many years till 1967, and even after he stepped down he was closely associated with the sport till his death in 1984. During his tenure as chairman, he established links with many foreign basketball associations.
1961 Orient Cup Tournament Pin
Across the Causeway, the Malayan Amateur Basketball Association (MABA) organised the inaugural Agong's Cup National Basketball Championship in Kuala Lumpur, 1958.
7th Agong Cup Tournament pin
Notice the tournament pin
above Mr Lee Kuan Yew's breast pocket
This tournament has since grown to become the most significant basketball tournament in Malaysia, for both men & women, with state teams competing annually to determine the national champion.
Singapore hosted the 1964 edition, with the then Premier Lee Kuan Yew, as Guest of Honour.
But many did not know that it was originally supposed to be hosted by SABF from August 9 to 18 but were postponed to December 1964 because of the deadly racial riots that occured on 21 July 1964. This is also why Singaporean celebrate "Racial Harmony" Day on that day.
Here is a newspaper clipping:
Major International Tournaments Hosted
Tournament Pin belonging to
MABA President, Mr Quek Kai Dong
Malaya was among the seven teams that participated in the inaugural men's Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Championships and would later become hosts in 1965, 1977 & 1985.
Note: The ABC is now known as FIBA Asia
Malaysia would also play host to the Asian Women's Basketball (AWB) Championships, starting from 1978.
The hosting of the ABC & AWB Championships were a very effective way to promote the game, in Malaysia.
Major Achievements
Since 1977, when basketball was first contested at the South East Asia (SEA) Games, the Malaysian women's team has struck gold at the biennial SEA Games 13 times, including an unbroken golden stretch from 1977 to 1989. Singapore's women's team have a record of 1 Silver (2003) & 2 Bronzes.
As for the male teams, Malaysia has a record of 1 Gold (1989), 7 Silver & 5 Bronze, as of the 2015 SEA Games. Singapore, on the other hand, were bronze medallists in 1979, 2013 & 2015.
Both the male & female teams will return for battle, when Kuala Lumpur hosts the 29th SEA Games from August 19 to 31 2017.
Stay Tuned: More posts on Basketball to come!
Pic Credits: National Archives Singapore
