In his youth, he was a handsome, bright lad, studying in a premier school in Penang who had all the opportunities to pursue tertiary education and make a life for himself. Yet, Dato' Ow Soon Kooi chose the path less taken - becoming a hockey player. It seemed he loved the game more than life itself. He was willing to give up everything - his studies, a better job, even a potential career -just for hockey.
Ow was so obsessed with hockey that he didn't care much about his MCE examination. He failed. Left school, worked as a hotel waiter, was a fireman and even a Milo boy just to find time to play hockey.
His efforts were quickly noticed by national hockey officials and in 1973 Ow Soon Kooi made his national debut at the 1973 Singapore SEAP Games. In 1974, he helped Malaysia win the bronze at the Tehran Asian Games.
In 1976, he got his first Olympic cap in Montreal.
In 1979, Ow Soon Kooi was made national captain. He soon showed his mettle at the ESANDA World Hockey Tournament in Perth, Australia.
He was voted one of the best players in the world.
Ow retired in 1982 but was called back to play for the team to the Los Angeles Olympics.
He was voted Malaysian Hockey Player of the Year in 1979, 1980 and 1981.
In 2012, he was conferred a Datukship by the late Sultan of Pahang. Dato' Ow also served as President of the PenangHockey Association and a Vice President with the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC).
Dato' Ow Soon Kooi is a Malaysian testament of how passion, dedication, discipline and determination can shape one's destiny.
