The 1929 Singapore Open, also known as the 1929 Singapore Open Singles Badminton Championship, took place from 19 October – 16 November 1929 at the Old Chinese Chin Woo Athletic Association Hall in City Hall with the final been played at the Singapore Chinese Girls' School Hall in Somerset, Singapore. The ties were played over a month with the first round ties being played on the 19th of October[1] and the final was played on the 16th of November.[2] The championship started as a men's singles competition before the rest of the disciplines were added in the subsequent editions.

1929 Singapore Open
Tournament details
Dates19 October 1929–
16 November 1929
Edition1st
VenueOld Chinese Chin Woo Athletic Association Hall
Singapore Chinese Girls' School Hall
LocationCity Hall and Somerset, Singapore
Champions
Men's singlesStraits Settlements E. J. Vass
1930

E.J. Vass won the inaugural championship when he defeated See Gim Hock in two straight games to win the men's singles title.[2]

Origins edit

Badminton was first introduced in Singapore by the British and was initially played among the British upper-class residing in Singapore. However, the game spread quickly to the rest of the local population which included English-educated elites, civil servants, white-collar workers and Chinese school students. Amid the rising popularity of badminton, badminton enthusiasts started forming clubs, or “parties”, to meet and play the game.[3]

In 1928, an 'unofficial' badminton championship was held by the Amateur Sporting Association in Singapore as there was no national governing body for badminton back then.[4] In 1929, the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) was established to promote the sport and organise competitions and its first official annual open championship was held that same year with the best players chosen to represent Singapore in the regional tournaments.[3] The event organisers were Mr Tan Boo Teck, the first president of SBA and its committee members.[5] The winner will receive the Aw Boon Haw Shield, which was originally presented by Mr Aw Boon Haw to the Amateur Sporting Association.[6]

Final results edit

Category Winners Runners-up Score
Men's singles   E. J. Vass   See Gim Hock 15–11, 15–10

Men's singles edit

First round[7][8] Second round[8][9] Third round[10] Quarter-finals[10] Semi-finals[11] Final[2]
                        
  E. J. Vass 15 15
  Kwek Chip Siang 3 3
  E. J. Vass 15 15
  Lim Boon Guan 5 1
  Lim Boon Guan 15 15
  Charlie Chua 5 8
  E. J. Vass 15 15
  Hendrick Tan 6 5
  Hendrick Tan 15 15
  Chew Keow Chin 11 5
  Hendrick Tan 15 12 15
  Koh Cheng Moh 3 15 9
  Koh Cheng Moh 15 15
  Cheong Yew Loo 9 9
  E. J. Vass w / o
  L. J. de Souza
  L. J. de Souza
bye
  L. J. de Souza 15 15
  Neo Peng Heng 11 6
  Neo Peng Heng
bye
  L. J. de Souza 15 15
  Low Liang Quee 4 3
  Low Liang Quee
bye
  Low Liang Quee 15 15
  Koh Leng Hoo 3 6
  Koh Leng Hoo
bye
  E. J. Vass 15 15
  Seah Eng Liat 8 3
  Seah Eng Liat
bye
  Seah Eng Liat 17 15
  Quan Siew Chye 15 3
  Quan Siew Chye
bye
  Seah Eng Liat 15 15
  Robert Tan 5 7
  Robert Tan
bye
  Robert Tan 4 15 15
  Goh Ah Cheng 15 12 8
  Goh Ah Cheng
bye
  Seah Eng Liat 15 15
  Ong Hock Poh 5 3
  Ong Hock Poh
bye
  Ong Hock Poh 15 15
  Koh Beng Swee 11 3
  Koh Beng Swee
bye
  Ong Hock Poh 15 15
  Koh Keng Siang 9 12
  Koh Keng Siang
bye
  Koh Keng Siang 18 12 15
  Ho Choy Kian 14 15 2
  Ho Choy Kian
bye
  E. J. Vass 15 15
  See Gim Hock 11 10
  Tan Peng Cheow
bye
  Tan Peng Cheow 18 1 17
  Tan Boon Kwang 17 15 15
  Tan Boon Kwang
bye
  Tan Peng Cheow 18 9 15
  Arthur Lim 14 15 12
  Arthur Lim
bye
  Arthur Lim 15 15
  E. Sim Mong 9 6
  E. Sim Mong
bye
  Tan Peng Cheow 12 11
  Yeo Kian Ann 15 15
  Ang Whatt Kim
bye
  Ang Whatt Kim 16 15
  Beng Tian Yew 15 11
  Beng Tian Yew
bye
  Ang Whatt Kim 7 12
  Yeo Kian Ann 15 15
  Yeo Kian Ann
bye
  Yeo Kian Ann 18 15
  Lee Kim Seck 17 8
  Lee Kim Seck
bye
  Yeo Kian Ann 9 6
  See Gim Hock 15 15
  Lim Chek Heng
bye
  Lim Chek Heng 15 15
  Wee Hong Hai 8 9
  Wee Hong Hai
bye
  Lim Chek Heng 15 15
  Yeo Sim Kang 4 7
  Yeo Sim Kang
bye
  Yeo Sim Kang 15 10 15
  Lim Chin Lam 9 15 8
  Lim Chin Lam
bye
  Lim Chek Heng 4 7
  See Gim Hock 15 15
  Tan Miang Cheng 15 15
  L. Samuel 3 3
  Tan Miang Cheng 15 15
  Tan Swee Wah 6 5
  Tan Swee Wah 18 18
  Lim Chuan Geok 13 14
  Tan Miang Cheng 12 15 10
  See Gim Hock 15 11 15
  Tan Hong Hoon 17 15
  Gan Hock Seng 15 11
  Tan Hong Hoon 1 4
  See Gim Hock 15 15
  Wee Eng Siang 1 1
  See Gim Hock 15 15

References edit

  1. ^ "Singapore Championship". Malaya Tribune. 17 October 1929. p. 10.
  2. ^ a b c "E. J. Vass Wins Singapore Singles Title". The Straits Times. 21 November 1929. p. 13.
  3. ^ a b "Badminton in Singapore". Singapore Infopedia. 2016.
  4. ^ "Singapore Badminton Singles Open Championship". Malayan Saturday Post. 22 September 1928. p. 36.
  5. ^ "An Open Championship". Malaya Tribune. 16 August 1929. p. 10.
  6. ^ "Story Of Singapore Badminton Trophy". The Straits Times. 7 December 1947. p. 10.
  7. ^ "Singapore Championship". Malaya Tribune. 15 October 1929. p. 10.
  8. ^ a b "Singapore Championship". Malaya Tribune. 21 October 1929. p. 10.
  9. ^ "Singapore Championship". Malaya Tribune. 29 October 1929. p. 10.
  10. ^ a b "Singapore Championship". Malaya Tribune. 4 November 1929. p. 10.
  11. ^ "Singapore Championship". Malaya Tribune. 15 November 1929. p. 10.