Hall of Fame

(MOJ33)MEXICO CITY,Oct 14 (AP)-Ho Koh Chye, Malaysian goalkeeper, tries to keep control over the Kenya Hockey team, during the Olympic Games in Mexico City Monday. Kenya and Malaysia tied 1-1. (AP Wire-photo) ms22240pool 1968

“Good, better, best…never let it rest ‘til the good becomes better and the better, best.”

Dato’ Ho Koh Chye
“The Evergreen Keeper”

Sport: Hockey (Goal Keeper)
Year Inducted: 2004

1975 marked a memorable year for Malaysian hockey, as the national team finished fourth at the FIH World Cup held in Kuala Lumpur. This was the best ever ranking achieved by the national team to date. The man behind this proud achievement was the team’s coach, Ho Koh Chye, who himself had played for Malaysia just over a decade earlier.

Born in 1942, Koh Chye was an avid all-round sportsman from his school days in St. Paul’s Institution, Seremban, playing football, hockey, badminton, rugby and athletics. His first love was football and he made it to the National Youth Team before he switched to hockey more seriously. His talent was quickly spotted, and while still a school boy he joined the national squad in 1958, and made his Asian Games debut in 1962 in Jakarta. He also played in the next Asian Games four years later, and in two Olympic Games – Tokyo (1964) and Mexico (1968).

Koh Chye retired after the Mexico Olympics but was back on the field two years later – as coach of the national team. He has mentioned that his proudest moment in the game came during his tenure as coach during which time he undertook a number of national coaching assignments. His most notable ones were the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok and three FIH World Cup assignments – Amsterdam (1973), Kuala Lumpur (1975) and Argentina (1978).

Koh Chye’s contribution to sport took another turn when he was appointed Sports Officer with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture in 1974. He went on to join the National Sports Council from where he retired as the Director of the International Preparation Division in 1993 to take up an appointment as Executive Director of Sportexcel. His experience and expertise was further recognized when the Johor government appointed him as a Sports Consultant.

He has led many Malaysian teams and contingents to international meets, most notably as Deputy Chef-de-mission to the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games, co-Chef-de-Mission to the 2003 Vietnam SEA Games, and Chef-de-Mission to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.Ho Koh Chye will forever be remembered as a distinguished sportsman and an accomplished coach who was instrumental in raising the bar of Malaysian hockey, leading the national team to achieving its greatest heights in the sport.

ACHIEVEMENTS

As Athlete
1962 – Asian Games, Jakarta, [Bronze Medal]

1964 – Olympic Games, Tokyo, [8th Placing]

1966 – Asian Games, Bangkok, [4th Placing]

1968 – Olympic Games, Mexico, [15th Placing (Team Captain)]

As National Coach
1970 – Asian Games, Bangkok

1973 – World Cup Hockey, Amsterdam

1975 – World Cup Hockey, Kuala Lumpur, [4th Placing]

1978 – World Cup Hockey, Argentina

Others
1994 – Deputy Chef de Mission, Asian Games, Hiroshima

2003- Co- Chef De Mission, Sea Games, Vietnam

2008- Chef De Mission, Olympic Games, Beijing

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