Flemming Delfs
Danish badminton player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flemming Delfs (born 7 September 1951) is a 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.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 7 September 1951 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Denmark | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Badminton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handedness | Right | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Men's singles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest ranking | 1 (1977) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career
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
After ending his active career, Delfs became CEO and co-owner of Patrick Skandinavia A/S the Danish distributor for Patrick.
Achievements
World Championships
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 Kartono |
7–15, 7–15 |  Bronze |
World Cup
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 |
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Tokyo, Japan | Steen Skovgaard |
Masao Tsuchida Yoshitaka Iino |
13–15, 10–15 | Bronze |
| 1980 | Kyoto, Japan | Steen Skovgaard |
Ade Chandra Christian Hadinata |
6–15, 3–15 |  Silver |
European Championships
Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Karlskrona Idrottshall, Karlskrona, Sweden | Klaus Kaagaard |
13–18, 15–8, 7–15 | Bronze |
| 1974 | Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria |  Sture Johnsson |
15–4, 6–15, 8–15 | Bronze |
| 1976 | Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin, Ireland | Elo Hansen |
15–4, 15–7 | Gold |
| 1978 | Guild Hall, Preston, England | Thomas Kihlström |
10–15, 15–6, 15–12 | Gold |
| 1980 | Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands | Morten Frost |
15–4, 1–15, 17–14 | Gold |
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria | Elo Hansen |
 Willi Braun Roland Maywald |
8–15, 6–15 | Bronze |
| 1980 | Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands | Steen Skovgaard |
Stefan Karlsson Claes Nordin |
3–15, 13–18 | Bronze |
European Junior Championships
Boys' singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Sporthal de Vliegermolen, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Netherlands | Preben Boesen |
15–0, 15–1 | Gold |
Boys' doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Sporthal de Vliegermolen, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Netherlands | Hans Røpke |
 Keith Arthur Ray Stevens |
15–9, 10–15, 10–15 | Bronze |
International tournaments (30 titles, 34 runners-up)
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 |
5–15, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 1974 | Nordic Championships | Svend Pri |
15–9, 10–15, 5–15 | 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 |
| 1975 | Nordic Championships | Sture Johnsson |
6–15, 15–12, 3–15 | Runner-up |
| 1975 | Norwegian International | Sture Johnsson |
15–1, 15–5 | Winner |
| 1976 | Denmark Open | Svend Pri |
15–9, 5–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1976 | Dutch Open | Ray Stevens |
15–10, 15–1 | Winner |
| 1976 | German Open | Paul Whetnall |
14–17, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1976 | Nordic Championships | Svend Pri |
15–4, 15–0 | Winner |
| 1976 | Norwegian International | Sture Johnsson |
4–15, 15–1, 7–15 | Runner-up |
| 1977 | Swedish Open | Liem Swie King |
4–15, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 1977 | Canadian 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 | Canadian Open | Thomas Kihlström |
14–17, 15–11, 18–16 | Winner |
| 1978 | Nordic Championships | Morten Frost |
15–5, 6–15, 4–15 | Runner-up |
| 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 | Canadian Open | Morten Frost |
7–15, 17–14, 7–15 | Runner-up |
| 1979 | Nordic Championships | Morten Frost |
6–15, 4–15 | Runner-up |
| 1980 | Chinese Taipei Open | Iie Sumirat |
15–7, 8–15, 18–16 | Winner |
| 1980 | Victor Cup | Thomas Kihlström |
7–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1981 | Nordic Championships | Morten Frost |
17–18, 5–15 | Runner-up |
| 1982 | Scottish Open | Morten Frost |
4–15, 2–15 | Runner-up |
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Nordic Championships | Jørgen Mortensen |
Svend Pri Per Walsøe |
8–15, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 1973 | Nordic Championships | Elo Hansen |
Svend Pri Poul Petersen |
16–18, 17–16, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1974 | Portugal International | Elo Hansen |
David Hunt William Kidd |
12–15, 15–8, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1974 | Nordic Championships | Elo Hansen |
Svend Pri Poul Petersen |
10–15, 6–15 | Runner-up |
| 1975 | Jamaica International | Elo Hansen |
Mike Tredgett Ray Stevens |
15–13, 4–15, 11–15 | Runner-up |
| 1975 | Mexico International | Elo Hansen |
Sture Johnsson Thomas Kihlström |
11–15, 15–13, 15–5 | Winner |
| 1975 | Nordic Championships | Elo Hansen |
Bengt Fröman Thomas Kihlström |
9–15, 2–15 | Runner-up |
| 1975 | Norwegian International | Elo Hansen |
Bengt Fröman Thomas Kihlström |
5–15, 15–5, 18–17 | Winner |
| 1976 | Swedish Open | Elo Hansen |
Jesper Helledie Jørgen Mortensen |
15–0, 15–2 | Winner |
| 1976 | Dutch Open | Elo Hansen |
Klaus Kaagaard Steen Skovgaard |
15–6, 15–12 | Winner |
| 1976 | Denmark Open | Elo Hansen |
David Eddy Eddy Sutton |
13–15, 11–15 | Runner-up |
| 1976 | Norwegian International | Elo Hansen |
Bengt Fröman Thomas Kihlström |
6–15, 12–15 | Runner-up |
| 1977 | Japan Open | Steen Skovgaard |
Nobutaka Ikeda Shoichi Toganoo |
15–9, 15–2 | Winner |
| 1977 | Denmark Open | Steen Skovgaard |
Bengt Fröman Thomas Kihlström |
6–15, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 1977 | Nordic Championships | Steen Skovgaard |
Bengt Fröman Thomas Kihlström |
15–4, 12–15, 12–15 | Runner-up |
| 1978 | Denmark Open | Steen Skovgaard |
Ade Chandra Christian Hadinata |
15–6, 15–11 | Winner |
| 1978 | Canadian Open | Steen Skovgaard |
Bengt Fröman Thomas Kihlström |
15–9, 10–15, retired | Runner-up |
| 1978 | Swedish Open | Steen Skovgaard |
Bengt Fröman Thomas Kihlström |
15–18, 15–9, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1978 | Nordic Championships | Steen Skovgaard |
Bengt Fröman Thomas Kihlström |
15–5, 15–9 | Winner |
| 1979 | Canadian Open | Morten Frost |
Ade Chandra Christian Hadinata |
5–15, 1–15 | Runner-up |
| 1979 | Swedish Open | Steen Skovgaard |
Steen Fladberg Morten Frost |
15–12, 12–15, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1979 | Nordic Championships | Steen Skovgaard |
Bengt Fröman Thomas Kihlström |
15–13, 11–15, 14–17 | Runner-up |
| 1980 | Copenhagen Cup | Steen Skovgaard |
Steen Fladberg Morten Frost |
15–8, 15–6 | Winner |
| 1980 | Denmark Open | Steen Skovgaard |
Ade Chandra Christian Hadinata |
15–10, 10–15, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1980 | Chinese Taipei Open | Steen Skovgaard |
Bobby Ertanto Hadibowo |
13–18, 5–15 | 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 |
| 1981 | Nordic Championships | Steen Skovgaard |
Steen Fladberg Morten Frost |
9–15, 5–15 | Runner-up |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Canadian Open | Pernille Kaagaard |
Elliot Stuart Eva Twedberg |
15–11, 18–17 | Winner |
| 1972 | U.S. Open | Pernille Kaagaard |
Elliot Stuart Eva Twedberg |
15–5, 15–1 | Winner |
| 1973 | Mexico International |  Carlene Starkey |
G. Harris Madalene Steinbroner |
15–12, 15–1 | Winner |