Chia Boon Leong Explained

Chia Boon Leong (1 January 1925 – 20 December 2022) was a Singaporean footballer who competed for China in the 1948 Summer Olympics and for Singapore at the 1954 Asian Games.^{[1] [2]} He was known as "twinkletoes" in the football scene.^[3]

Chia was born on 1 January 1925 to philanthropist Chia Yew Siang.^[4] He grew up in Pasir Panjang, Singapore. Chia attended Pasir Panjang English School and Raffles Institution.

Chia was a founding member of the Pasir Panjang Rovers.

During World War II and the Japanese occupation of Singapore, Chia studied at a Japanese school in Queen Street in late 1942.

In mid-1943, Chia worked in a telegraphy company, where his work consists of sending and receiving messages in morse code. Every day after work, he would go to Jalan Besar Stadium to play football for the Pasir Panjang Rovers. Chia was also part of a Syonan team that travelled to Malaya to play against the state teams.

Chia died on 20 December 2022, at the age of 97.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Chia Boon Leong. National Library Board Singapore. 24 March 2016.
2. Web site: Chia Boon Leong . Olympedia . 17 October 2021.
3. Web site: Gene . Ng Keng . 2022-02-13 . Ex-footballer recounts Japanese Occupation years; journey from execution screening to 1948 Olympics . 2022-12-22 . The New Paper . en.
4. Web site: Lee . David . 21 December 2022 . S'pore's only Olympic footballer 'Twinkletoes' Chia Boon Leong dies at 97 The Straits Times . 21 December 2022 . . en.