Chang Ung

To know Chang Ung was to know a quiet kind of greatness. He never chased the spotlight, yet it somehow always found him—first on the hardwood courts of his youth, where his quick passes and steady grace made him a national team staple, and later in the grand halls of international sport. I still smile thinking of how he’d watch old match footage, pausing every few minutes to point out a clever piece of footwork or share a story about a fierce rival who later became his dearest friend. Even when he stepped into the presidency of the ITF in 2002, he never lost that humble, approachable warmth. He treated every title not as a pedestal, but as an invitation to serve the athletes who came after him. Behind the IOC credentials and formal handshakes was a man who found his truest joy in life’s simple rhythms. He was happiest in his garden, coaxing stubborn flowers into bloom, or at the head of our dinner table, where he’d insist everyone pass the dishes “just like a proper tournament bracket.” He adored his family with a fierce, quiet devotion. He was the grandfather who kept a drawer full of handwritten notes and the husband who still remembered exactly how his wife took her evening tea. Weekends were for long walks, the crackle of a well-tuned radio, and sitting patiently with the kids to teach them the basics of balance and respect. He always believed that discipline and love grew best side by side. Chang’s legacy isn’t measured in medals, but in the quiet confidence he left in everyone he met. Young athletes from across the globe still speak of the way he’d truly listen before offering advice that cut straight to the heart. He saw sport as a living bridge, a way to knit people together across borders, and he spent his life building those connections one handshake and one patient conversation at a time. Though he stepped back from his IOC duties in 2018, his presence never truly left the room. As we say goodbye, we don’t just mourn a remarkable life; we celebrate a beautiful one. Rest well, Chang. Your echoes will keep bouncing across every court, every training hall, and every warm kitchen table we’ll ever share.