PunchGunalan.com

Tribute

Recollections of Punch Booklet Condolences Card & Letters Light a Lamp

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Remembering Punch - Video

15th October 2012 - New Straits Times (Malaysia) - News Article

29th September 2012 - Star Metro (Malaysia) - News Article

25th September 2012 - The New Paper (Singapore) - News Article

25th September 2012 - Tamil Murusu (Singapore) - News Article

24th September 2012 - PUNCH GUNALAN STADIUM!

Name the Putra Stadium in Kuala Lumpur after the late Punch Gunalan was the call from former Malaysian Sportswriters.

"We hope that due recognition will be accorded to Punch by at least naming the Putra Stadium after him," said Fauzi Omar.

"How can we ignore him. A man who has achieved so much for Malaysia that no other Malaysian has ever done or is likely to do," added George Das.

Eighteen of these former sportswriters organised "A TRIBUTE TO PUNCH" on Sunday, September 23rd, 2012 in Kuala Lumpur, which was attended by the late badminton legend's wife Vijeya Gunalan and only son Dr. Roshan Gunalan.

The event saw his classmates from King George V School, Seremban, his first doubles partner Yew Cheng Hoe, badminton players, Olympian Dr. M Jegathesan, former Asian Football Confederation General-Secretary, Peter Velappan and a host of friends numbering 120 celebrating the event.

A special 64-page book titled "REMEMBERING PUNCH" comprising a recollection of stories about Punch was distributed.

Punch was 68 years when he passed away on August 15th, 2012 from liver cancer.

As a player, he had won numerous badminton titles in the All-England, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, SEA Games and international open events worldwide. He retired as Deputy-President of BWF in 2009.

Badminton fans can send a message to www.punchgunalan.com or read the stories on his website.

George Das
Mobile No.: +6012-221 1946
September 24th, 2012

23rd September 2012 - Tribute to Punch, Speech by Yew Cheng Ho, Doubles partner in 1969 - Video

23rd September 2012 - Tribute to Punch, Speech by Peter Velappan, Former Asian Football Confederation, General Secretary - Video

23rd September 2012 - Tribute to Punch, Speech by Soo Weng Heng, Classmate - Video

23rd September 2012 - Tribute to Punch, Speech by Vijeya Gunalan - Video

23rd September 2012 - Tribute to Punch, Speech by Dr. M. Jegathesan, Former Asian Games Gold Medalist - Video

23rd September 2012 - Tribute to Punch, Speech by James Selvaraj, Former Thomas Cup Player - Video

23rd September 2012 - Tribute to Punch, Speech by Eraj Wijesinghe (Sri Lanka) - Video

23rd September 2012 - Tribute to Punch, Speech by Sieh Kok Chi, Olympic Council of Malaysia, General Secretary - Video

23rd September 2012 - Tribute to Punch, Speech by Roshan, Punch Gunalan's Son - Video

23rd September 2012 - Tribute to Punch - Image Gallery

23rd September 2012 - Message from Eric Ooi - Video

23rd September 2012 - Message from Michael Chan Looi Cheong - Video

23rd September 2012 - Roshan's Speech

A very good evening to everyone.

Thank you all for coming and a special thank you to Mr George Das and the organizing committee. Although we mourn the loss of someone we hold dear to us, the reason we are here, I believe is to celebrate the life of a great man. That is what he would have wanted. The man who had a smile for everyone. He was a larger than life character, happy go lucky and jovial, with an infectious laughter…. Something I miss dearly but can still clearly remember. He loved to be surrounded by people and always wanted to be close to those he loved the most. Even just before his passing, he was content and happy when surrounded by all his friends and family. Those he loved. The reason, we are all here today, is because he has, in some special way, touched each of our lives.

He was a family man to some, a friend to many, a hero to many more… but he was a father to just one. And I feel blessed and honoured to be that person, his only child. Growing up and even now, I have always been known as Punch Gunalan’s son. The conversations that usually take place:

So, you are Punch Gunalan’s son?
Yes.
You don’t play badminton?
Do I look like I can play?
Hmmm
I think the gene skips a generation….

And so it has been over the years, as I shamelessly basked in the shadows of his greatness…
So what was he like as a father? Behind the persona of a legend, he was a simple man. His passion was always badminton and sports but his life was his family. As much as he adored his wife, and I don’t want to praise myself here, but his pride and joy was always his son…. And he was mine. He would be so proud of even the smallest things I achieved. But that was the man and father he was. An All England Champion, beaming with pride as his son won some minor school doubles medal. I was his number one… Until his grandson came along, and I took a backseat!

This was the man who actually sang lullabies to me to sleep when I was little. And for those of you who know my father, he couldn’t sing for nuts! Yet, there was that comfort in his actions. A special bond, between a father and a son. He was always the first to offer a shoulder to cry on when I was down and the first to raise my hand in triumph when he could. The man could never say ‘no’ to me. As such, we never really had any arguments. He spoilt me rotten. He never trained me to be a badminton player, always saying that he would have to be ‘cruel to be kind’ to me, were he to train me. He just didn’t have the heart to torture me in any way…. Or I reckon he must have realised that I wasn’t really very good at it!

I looked up to him and adored him in many ways, good or bad. I have always strived hard to make him proud, as best I could. Growing up, and even now, we had a special bond. We didn’t need to say it in words…we never did. But I always knew that I could turn to him for anything. My pillar of strength… my idol. Although he travelled a lot, I never felt distant from him. He was ALWAYS there for me.

So, what has changed now? Nothing…. I still look up to him, I still strive to make him proud. And I know he will still be there for me….somehow. What I am today, what I have today is largely due to him… and that bond we shared.

What do I miss now? Everything…. That warm smile (and hearty laughter).. That deep look in his eyes, where I could find solace and comfort. The look that would tell me, without words, that it’ll be ok. No matter what. That spirit, that passion… That, ‘lets go for a dinner together’…., ‘let me fix you a drink’…. All the little things that made him special to me.

To my dear father, 35 years is all you gave me. A little too short. I loved you very much, but I guess God loved you more. To me, as a father, you were and always will be the greatest. You were always my hero.

I miss you terribly, but I know you will watch over us and be my guardian angel, as you have always been. You will live long in my heart and the hearts of all those people whose lives you’ve touched and blessed. True legends never die.

So, to end this, I AM PUNCH GUNALAN’S SON. And I have always worn that badge with such pride and honour… especially so today…. Love you appa.

Thank you

~Roshan~
Tribute to Punch
23 Sept 2012

23rd September 2012 - Tribute To Punch - Invitation

Invitation