Tan Joe Hok

Hendra Kartanegara
Personal information
Birth nameTan Joe Hok
CountryIndonesia
Born(1937-08-11)11 August 1937
Bandung, Dutch East Indies
Died2 June 2025(2025-06-02) (aged 87)
Jakarta, Indonesia
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  Indonesia
Thomas Cup
1958 Singapore Men's team
1961 Jakarta Men's team
1964 Tokyo Men's team
Asian Games
1962 Jakarta Men's singles
1962 Jakarta Men's team
1962 Jakarta Men's doubles

Tan Joe Hok (Indonesian name: Hendra Kartanegara, Chinese: 陳有福; pinyin: Chén Youfu; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tân Iú-hok; 11 August 1937 – 2 June 2025) was an Indonesian badminton player, who along with Ferry Sonneville and a cadre of fine doubles players set the foundation for an Indonesian badminton dynasty by dethroning then-perennial Thomas Cup champion Malaya in 1958.

Tan Joe Hok lived in Bandung until he finished high school. He received his degree in Chemistry and Biology from Baylor University, Texas, United States.

He was the first Indonesian to win the All England Open in 1959 and the first Indonesian to win a gold medal in Asian Games, which happened at home in 1962. He won both the U.S. Open and Canadian Open singles titles consecutively in 1959 and 1960. He had many other notable achievements in the badminton field, both as a player and a coach, most particularly, winning all but one of his singles matches for Indonesia's world champion Thomas Cup (men's international) teams of 1958, 1961, and 1964.

Background

Tan was born on 11 August 1937 in Bandung.[1] From 1959 to 1963, he studied Premed in Chemistry & Biology at Baylor University in the U.S. state of Texas.

He married former badminton player Goei Kiok Nio in 1965 and they have two children. Tan Joe Hok had a difficulty establishing full citizenship in Indonesia because he could not obtain an SBKRI, a mandatory document for non-indigenous and especially Chinese-Indonesian during the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Suharto. He said, "It wouldn't be hard for us to move overseas but we don't want to do that because we are Indonesians. Even if it was raining gold overseas, we will remain here, in the land where Indonesian blood has been spilled."[2][3]

Tan died after suffering stroke in Jakarta, on 2 June 2025, at the age of 87.[4]

Career and achievements

  • Won the National Championships at Surabaya (1956)
  • Member of Squad Indonesian Team that won the Thomas Cup at Singapore (1958)
  • First Indonesian badminton men's player to win All England (1959)
  • First Indonesian badminton men's player to win Asian Games gold medal (1962)
  • Member of Squad Team Thomas Cup Indonesia (1964–1967)
  • Badminton coach at Mexico (1969–1970)
  • Badminton coach at Hong Kong (1971)
  • Coach of Indonesia Thomas Cup Team at Kuala Lumpur (1984)
  • Badminton coach at PB Djarum Kudus
  • Mandala Pest Control Director (since 1973)
  • Best Sport Coach by SIWO/PWI Jaya version (1984)

Asian Games

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1962 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia Teh Kew San 15–9, 15–3 Gold

Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1962 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia Liem Tjeng Kiang Ng Boon Bee
Tan Yee Khan
13–15, 17–18 Silver

International tournaments (10 titles, 7 runners-up)

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1957 India Championships Amrit Dewan 15–2, 15–7 Winner
1958 East India Championships Eddy Yusuf 15–10, 15–9 Winner
1959 All England Open Ferry Sonneville 15–8, 10–15, 15–3 Winner
1959 Thailand Championships Charoen Wattanasin 15–10, 9–15, 15–6 Winner
1959 Canadian Open Charoen Wattanasin 15–4, 15–10 Winner
1959 U.S. Open Charoen Wattanasin 7–15, 15–5, 18–14 Winner[5]
1960 Canadian Open Finn Kobberø 10–15, 15–8, 15–13 Winner
1960 U.S. Open Charoen Wattanasin 15–6, 15–8 Winner
1962 U.S. Open Ferry Sonneville 15–17, 17–18 Runner-up
1962 Mexican Open Erland Kops 8–15, 9–15 Runner-up

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1960 Canadian Open Charoen Wattanasin Lim Say Hup
Teh Kew San
8–15, 8–15 Runner-up
1962 U.S. Open Ferry Sonneville Joe Alston
Wynn Rogers
12–15, 13–15 Runner-up
1962 Mexican Open Erland Kops Berndt Dahlberg
Ferry Sonneville
15–7, 14–17, 15–4 Winner
1963 All England Open Ferry Sonneville Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen
Finn Kobberø
6–15, 5–15 Runner-up
1969 Canadian Open Charoen Wattanasin Tony Jordan
Robert McCoig
7–15, 6–15 Runner-up

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1960 Canadian Open Sushila Kapadia Finn Kobberø
Jean Miller
21–16, 11–21, 21–15 Runner-up
1967 Malaysia Open Retno Kustijah Darmadi
Minarni
15–9, 15–8 Winner

See also

References

  1. ^ Redaksi, Tim (2 June 2025). "Sosok Tan Joe Hok, Legenda Bulutangkis Sempat Jadi Korban Diskriminasi". CNBC Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  2. ^ Kompas newspaper on 11 February 2004
  3. ^ SE, DR Ir Justian Suhandinata (6 February 2013). Indonesian Chinese Descent In Indonesia's Economy And Political. Gramedia Pustaka Utama. ISBN 978-979-22-3762-7. Retrieved 3 June 2025 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Indonesian Badminton Icon Tan Joe Hok Passes Away at 87". Jakarta Globe. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  5. ^ "LIFE". Time Inc. 20 April 1959. Retrieved 3 June 2025 – via Google Books.