Wikipedia

Flemming Delfs

Flemming Delfs (born September 7, 1951) is a former Danish badminton player who was world no. 1 in 1977. He won the All England Championship, the European and the World Championship in the 1970s.

Flemming Delfs
Personal information
CountryDenmark
Born (1951-09-07) 7 September 1951 (age 72)
HandednessRight
Men's singles
Highest ranking1 (1977)
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  Denmark
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1977 Malmö Men's Singles
Bronze medal – third place 1980 Jakarta Men's doubles
World Cup
Silver medal – second place 1980 Kyoto Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1979 Tokyo Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1980 Kyoto Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1979 Tokyo Men's doubles
Thomas Cup
Silver medal – second place 1973 Jakarta Men's team
Silver medal – second place 1979 Jakarta Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 1982 London Men's team
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1976 Dublin Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 1978 Preston Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 1980 Groningen Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 1976 Dublin Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 1978 Preston Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 1980 Groningen Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 1972 Karlskrona Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 1974 Vienna Mixed team
Bronze medal – third place 1972 Karlskrona Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1974 Vienna Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1974 Vienna Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1980 Groningen Men's doubles
European Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 1969 Leidschendam-Voorburg Boys' singles
Bronze medal – third place 1969 Leidschendam-Voorburg Boys' doubles

Career edit

Delfs is especially noteworthy for winning men's singles[1] at the first IBF World Championships held in Malmö, Sweden in 1977.[2] He dominated that same 1976/1977 season by winning nearly all other noteworthy tournaments, including the All-England Championships.[3] Delfs won three consecutive European men's singles titles in 1976, 1978, and 1980.[4] He played on all four Danish Thomas Cup (men's international) teams between 1972 and 1982, two of which (1973, 1979) reached the championship round before losing to Indonesia.[5] Tall, with an elegant style and powerful backhand, Delfs was a highly impressive player at his best, but typically had difficulty in the hot, humid conditions he encountered in the Far East.[6]

Later life edit

After ending his active career, Delfs became CEO and co-owner of Patrick Skandinavia A/S the Danish distributor for Patrick.

Achievements edit

World Championships edit

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1977 Malmö Isstadion, Malmö, Sweden   Svend Pri 15–5, 15–6   Gold

Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1980 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia   Steen Skovgaard   Rudy Heryanto
  Hariamanto Kartono 		7–15, 7–15   Bronze

World Cup edit

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1979 Tokyo, Japan   Iie Sumirat 7–15, 7–15   Bronze
1980 Kyoto, Japan   Masao Tsuchida 10–15, 13–15   Bronze

European Championships edit

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1972 Karlskrona, Sweden   Klaus Kaagaard 13–18, 15–8, 7–15   Bronze
1974 Vienna, Austria   Sture Johnsson 15–4, 6–15, 8–15   Bronze
1976 Dublin, Ireland   Elo Hansen 15–4, 15–7   Gold
1978 Preston, England   Thomas Kihlström 10–15, 15–6, 15–12   Gold
1980 Groningen, Netherlands   Morten Frost 15–4, 1–15, 17–14   Gold

International tournaments edit

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1973 Denmark Open   Rudy Hartono 14–17, 12–15   Runner-up
1973 India Open   Svend Pri 8–15, 7–15   Runner-up
1974 Portugal International   Elo Hansen   Runner-up
1975 Dutch Open   Sture Johnsson 14–15, 15–0, 15–10   Winner
1975 German Open   Paul Whetnall 15–10, 15–12   Winner
1975 Jamaica International   Jamie Paulson 15–6, 15–2   Winner
1976 Denmark Open   Svend Pri 15–9, 5–15, 10–15   Runner-up
1976 Dutch Open   Winner
1976 German Open   Paul Whetnall   Runner-up
1977 Swedish Open   Liem Swie King 4–15, 8–15   Runner-up
1977 Canada Open   Thomas Kihlström 12–15, 15–7, 15–10   Winner
1977 All England   Liem Swie King 15–17, 15–11, 15–8   Winner
1977 Denmark Open   Svend Pri 15–12, 15–7   Winner
1977 Japan Open   Thomas Kihlström 15–9, 13–15, 10–15   Runner-up
1978 Swedish Open   Svend Pri 3–15, 8–15   Runner-up
1978 Dutch Open   Svend Pri 15–3, 3–15, 15–7   Winner
1978 Canada Open   Thomas Kihlström 14–17, 15–11, 18–16   Winner
1979 Swedish Open   Ray Stevens 15–7, 15–0   Winner
1979 Dutch Open   Morten Frost 15–6, 3–15, 17–15   Winner
1979 Denmark Open   Morten Frost 15–7, 15–7   Winner
1979 All England   Liem Swie King 7–15, 8–15   Runner-up
1979 Canada Open   Morten Frost 7–15, 17–14, 7–15   Runner-up
1980 Chinese Taipei Open   Iie Sumirat   Winner
1980 Victor Cup   Thomas Kihlström 7–15, 10–15   Runner-up
1982 Scottish Open   Morten Frost 4–15, 2–15   Runner-up

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1974 Portugal International   Elo Hansen   David Hunt
  William Kidd 		  Runner-up
1975 Jamaica International   Elo Hansen   Mike Tredgett
  Ray Stevens 		15–13, 4–15, 11–15   Runner-up
1976 Swedish Open   Elo Hansen   Winner
1976 Dutch Open   Elo Hansen   Winner
1976 Denmark Open   Elo Hansen   David Eddy
  Eddy Sutton 		13–15, 11–15   Runner-up
1977 Japan Open   Steen Skovgaard   Nobutaka Ikeda
  Shoichi Toganoo 		15–9, 15–2   Winner
1977 Denmark Open   Steen Skovgaard   Thomas Kihlström
  Bengt Fröman 		6–15, 8–15   Runner-up
1978 Denmark Open   Steen Skovgaard   Christian Hadinata
  Ade Chandra 		15–6, 15–11   Winner
1978 Canada Open   Steen Skovgaard   Thomas Kihlström
  Bengt Fröman 		15–9, 10–15, retired   Runner-up
1978 Swedish Open   Steen Skovgaard   Thomas Kihlström
  Bengt Fröman 		15–18, 15–9, 15–8   Winner
1979 Canada Open   Morten Frost   Christian Hadinata
  Ade Chandra 		5–15, 1–15   Runner-up
1979 Swedish Open   Steen Skovgaard   Steen Fladberg
  Morten Frost 		15–12, 12–15, 15–10   Winner
1980 Copenhagen Cup   Steen Skovgaard   Steen Fladberg
  Morten Frost 		  Winner
1980 Denmark Open   Steen Skovgaard   Christian Hadinata
  Ade Chandra 		15–10, 10–15, 15–10   Winner
1980 Chinese Taipei Open   Steen Skovgaard   Hadibowo Susanto
  Bobby Ertanto 		  Runner-up
1980 Victor Cup   Steen Skovgaard   Thomas Kihlström
  Claes Nordin 		5–15, 17–18   Runner-up
1981 Japan Open   Prakash Padukone   Christian Hadinata
  Lius Pongoh 		4–15, 5–15   Runner-up

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1973 Mexico International   Carlene Starkey   G. Harris
  Madalene Steinbroner 		15–12, 15–1   Winner

References edit

  1. ^ Mohapatra, Bikash (07 September 2021). "Happy 70th...To A Forgotten Champion From The 1970s", [Badminton Bladet.DK].
  2. ^ Pat Davis, The Guinness Book of Badminton (Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlatives Ltd., 1983) 109.
  3. ^ Davis, 149
  4. ^ Davis, 115.
  5. ^ Davis 125-128.
  6. ^ Davis, 149.

External links edit

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