Datuk Punch Gunalan PSD BSD (4 February 1944 – 15 August 2012)[1][2] was a Malaysian badminton player, who achieved success in both singles and doubles competitions.

Gunalan was a talented right-hander who spent what might have been some of the best years of his playing career competing only sporadically as a student in England.

In early 70s, Gunalan and his partner, Ng Boon Bee became the leading men's doubles team in the world.

He reached the All-England singles final in 1974, losing in three close sets to the iconic Rudy Hartono.

In 1992, as team manager of the Thomas Cup together with Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tan Sri Elyas Omar, Malaysia won the Thomas Cup beating Indonesia.