Bidding farewell: David and Sabrina paying their last respects to Choong at his residence in Bell Road.This was revealed by Alleycats vocalist Datuk David Arumugam, who said he used to sit for hours watching the badminton legend train in a makeshift badminton court at the alley off Argyll Road at night.
“Datuk Eddy and the other players, all of whom were already well established at that time, used the alley as their training ground.
“My neighbourhood friends and I watched them play for hours. There were no high technology gadgets in those days and watching them play was entertainment for us,” said David, who was then a primary school student.
He said Choong and the other players were a motivation to the neighbourhood children and adults.
“They were all already top badminton players in Penang and it was amazing to see them train one night in our humble housing area and then see them compete in major international tournaments such as the All-England.
“When I was little, I remember listening closely to the radio when there were announcements of Datuk Eddy's victory and I felt so proud,” he said.
Choong, 82, died of intestinal bleeding on Monday at a private hospital here where he was admitted two days earlier due to a bout of vomiting.
He will be cremated at the Batu Gantung crematorium at 2pm on Friday.
David, now 63, recalled that when he started venturing into his music career, Choong took the time to attend Alleycats' performances.
“He was a very busy man but he still came. I could tell that he loved music a lot,” David added.
He and his wife Datin Sabrina Clyde, 57, were among those who paid their last respects to Choong at his residence in Bell Road here yesterday.
Among the others who came were Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, state exco member Chow Kon Yeow, Penang Barisan Nasional Youth chief Oh Tong Keong, Penang MCA Youth chief Tan Hing Teik, Penang MIC Youth chief J. Dhinagaran and Khoo Kongsi president Datuk Seri Khoo Keat Siew and his wife Datin Seri Daisy Yeow.
Oh urged the state government to name a road or badminton hall after Choong in recognition of his contribution to sports.
Datuk Finn Choong, 53, said his father was an avid music fan who loved all music genres on top of his hobby in gardening and collecting antiques.
“There is also a discussion in progress by the Penang state museum on exhibiting some of my father's achievements there but we'll see how it goes,” he said.
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