Chia Boon Leong

In this Chinese name, the family name is Xie.

Chia Boon Leong (simplified Chinese: 谢文龙; traditional Chinese: 謝文龍[1], 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.[2][3] He was known as "twinkletoes" in the football scene.[4]

Early life and education

Chia was born on 1 January 1925 to philanthropist Chia Yew Siang.[5] He grew up in Pasir Panjang, Singapore.[5] Chia attended Pasir Panjang English School and Raffles Institution.[5]

During World War II and the Japanese occupation of Singapore, Chia studied at a Japanese school in Queen Street in late 1942.[4]

Career

Chia was a founding member of the Pasir Panjang Rovers.[4]

In mid-1943, Chia worked in a telegraphy company, where his work consists of sending and receiving messages in morse code.[4] Every day after work, he would go to Jalan Besar Stadium to play football for the Pasir Panjang Rovers.[4] Chia was also part of a Syonan team that travelled to Malaya to play against the state teams.[4]

In 1948, Chia, alongside Yeap Cheng Eng and Chu Chee Seng, as Malayan Chinese represented China at football team at the 1948 Summer Olympics held at London, England.[6]

In December 1951, Chia played in a friendly match for Singapore against Swedish club IFK Göteborg.[7] He was praised by the coach, former England international football player, John Mahon, who told his team to “watch that little fellow with the twinkling feet, he works hard, dribbles hard and is outstanding both in attack and defence”.[7] This resulted in Chia being nicknamed "twinkletoes".

Death

Chia died on 20 December 2022, at the age of 97.[5]

References

  1. ^ "本地足球名将"闪电脚"谢文龙逝世 享年97岁". 8world (in Chinese (Singapore)). 21 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Chia Boon Leong". National Library Board Singapore. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Chia Boon Leong". Olympedia. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Gene, Ng Keng (13 February 2022). "Ex-footballer recounts Japanese Occupation years; journey from execution screening to 1948 Olympics". The New Paper. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d Lee, David (21 December 2022). "S'pore's only Olympic footballer 'Twinkletoes' Chia Boon Leong dies at 97 | The Straits Times". The Straits Times. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Chia Boon Leong, Yeap Cheng Eng and Chu Chee Seng, the three Malayan Chinese footballers who represented the China Olympic soccer team at the World Olympics, are seen at Bayan Lepas airport, Penang, on their return from London". The Straits Budget. 2 September 1948. p. 18. Retrieved 26 February 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. ^ a b "GOTHS PRAISE TWINKLE TOES BOON LEONG". The Singapore Free Press. 13 December 1951. p. 7. Retrieved 26 February 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
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