Raphi Kanchanaraphi (1936 – February 19, 2010)[1] was a world-class badminton player who represented both Thailand and Canada in international competition, and won national doubles and mixed doubles titles in both countries.

Raphi Kanchanaraphi
Personal information
CountryThailand
Born(1936-11-06)6 November 1936
Bangkok, Siam
Died19 February 2010(2010-02-19) (aged 73)
Bangkok, Thailand
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  Thailand
Thomas Cup
Silver medal – second place 1961 Jakarta Men's team
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1966 Bangkok Men's team
Silver medal – second place 1962 Jakarta Men's team
Southeast Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1961 Rangoon Mixed doubles
Silver medal – second place 1959 Bangkok Men's doubles
Silver medal – second place 1961 Rangoon Men's doubles
Silver medal – second place 1965 Kuala Lumpur Men's doubles
Silver medal – second place 1967 Bangkok Men's doubles
Silver medal – second place 1965 Kuala Lumpur Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 1965 Kuala Lumpur Mixed doubles

Career

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Known for his anticipation and racket control, Kanchanaraphi was one of a cadre of fine Thai doubles players who helped Thailand to strongly contend for the Thomas Cup (men's international team competition trophy) in both 1961 and 1964. In partnership with Narong Bhornchima, Kanchanaraphi won 15 of his 18 Thomas Cup doubles matches in those two seasons, the wins including both of his doubles matches against Indonesia in the 1961 Challenge Round.[2] Kanchanaraphi and Bhornchima were men's doubles runners-up in the prestigious All-England Championships in 1962, narrowly losing to the famous Danes Finn Kobbero and Jorgen Hammergaard Hansen.[3] In 1969 Kanchanaraphi migrated to Canada where he won more titles, and competed in the Thomas Cup campaigns of 1973[4] and 1976[5] for Canada with former Thai teammate Channarong Ratanaseangsuang.

Achievements

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Southeast Asian Peninsular Games

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Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1959 Bangkok, Thailand   Narong Bhornchima   Charoen Wattanasin
  Kamal Sudthivanich
12–15, 14–15   Silver
1961 Yangon, Myanmar   Narong Bhornchima   Tan Yee Khan
  Ng Boon Bee
8–15, 15–6, 10–15   Silver
1965 Selangor Badminton Hall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia   Narong Bhornchima   Tan Yee Khan
  Ng Boon Bee
8–15, 11–15   Silver
1967 Bangkok, Thailand   Narong Bhornchima   Tan Yee Khan
  Ng Boon Bee
7–15, 8–15   Silver

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1961 Bangkok, Thailand   Pankae Phongarn   Ng Boon Bee
  Ng Mei Ling
14–18, 15–8, 15–9   Gold
1965 Selangor Badminton Hall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia   Sumol Chanklum   Lâm Trình
  Nguyễn Thị Thúy Hồng
15–8, 15–6   Bronze

International tournaments

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Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1962 All England   Narong Bhornchima   Finn Kobberø
  Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen
16–17, 3–15   Runner-up
1963 Canada Open   Channarong Ratanaseangsuang   Erland Kops
  Robert McCoig
13–15, 15–11, 13–15   Runner-up
1970 Canada Open   Channarong Ratanaseangsuang   Ippei Kojima
  Junji Honma
15–10, 15–9   Winner
1973 Canada Open   Channarong Ratanaseangsuang   Jamie Paulson
  Yves Paré
  Runner-up
1973 Mexico International   Channarong Ratanaseangsuang   Jamie Paulson
  Yves Paré
18–15, 18–15   Winner

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1974 Canada Open   Barbara Welch   Rolf Paterson
  Mimi Nilsson
15–5, 15–10   Winner

References

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  1. ^ Obit Archived 30 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 24 July 2010
  2. ^ Herbert Scheele ed., The International Badminton Federation Handbook for 1967 (Canterbury, Kent, England: J. A. Jennings Ltd. 1967) 78-87.
  3. ^ Scheele, 168.
  4. ^ Pat Davis, The Guinness Book of Badminton (Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlatives Ltd., 1983) 125.
  5. ^ H. A. E. Scheele, "Indonesia retains the Thomas Cup", World Badminton, August 1976.