Dr Hasmah Ali, 100, remembered as the heart of Malaysian badminton

PETALING JAYA – Dr Hasmah Ali, the long-serving former patron of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and a central figure in the sport’s modern history, died at the age of 100.

For more than two decades, Hasmah was a constant presence around Malaysia’s badminton family, forging close bonds with national shuttlers and sharing in their triumphs and anxieties.

Guiding hand in the 1992 Thomas Cup

Her most celebrated contribution came at the 1992 Thomas Cup final, when Malaysia faced Indonesia after a 25-year wait for the men’s team crown. With the tie locked at 2-2, doubles pair Cheah Soon Kit and Soo Beng Kiang entered the arena under immense pressure to face Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky.

Hasmah, dressed in a red-and-white baju kurung, sensed tension between the Malaysian pair. Speaking to them separately, she told Cheah that “there was no better partner for him than Beng Kiang”, then repeated the message to Soo. The reminder of mutual trust proved decisive: the Malaysians prevailed 15-12, 10-15, 15-8, sealing a 3-2 victory and Malaysia’s fifth Thomas Cup.

Years later, at the 2019 launch of Juara Tangkis Tun Dr Siti Hasmah, the memories still moved her to tears. “I get emotional and start tearing every time I revisit the year 1992,” she said. “These players were like my children and they saw me as their mother. And as a mother, it was my duty to keep them united.”

Beyond titles and positions

Hasmah spent more than two decades as BAM patron, stepping down in 2007, and never meddled with tactics. “I left that to the coaches,” she once noted, focusing instead on team harmony. Former internationals consistently described her as “like a mother”, “so comforting”, “so gracious” and “so charming”, recalling how her encouragement lifted spirits during both training sessions and match days.

Her concern extended beyond the national squad. Through the welfare organisation Bakti, she supported efforts to nurture young talent, and on 13 January 2020 she visited Japanese world No 1 Kento Momota at Putrajaya Hospital after he was injured in a road crash hours after winning the Malaysia Masters, despite holding no formal role.

What her passing means

Hasmah’s passing marks the end of an era, with the 1992 Thomas Cup victory remaining one of Malaysia’s most celebrated sporting triumphs. Former players continue to credit the triumph not only to skill but to the unity she fostered. As Malaysia reflects on her century-long life, the values she championed – trust, togetherness and unwavering support – endure as touchstones for the national team and the wider badminton community.