Flemming Delfs

Last updated
Flemming Delfs
Internationale open Nederlandse kampioenschappen badminton wereldkampioen Flemmi, Bestanddeelnr 930-1166.jpg
Personal information
CountryDenmark
Born (1951-09-07) 7 September 1951 (age 73)
HandednessRight
Men's singles
Highest ranking1 (1977)
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1977 Malmö Men's Singles
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1980 Jakarta Men's doubles
World Cup
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1980 Kyoto Men's doubles
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1979 Tokyo Men's singles
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg1980 KyotoMen's singles
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg1979 TokyoMen's doubles
Thomas Cup
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1973 Jakarta Men's team
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1979 Jakarta Men's team
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1982 London Men's team
European Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1976 Dublin Men's singles
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1978 Preston Men's singles
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1980 Groningen Men's singles
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1976 DublinMixed team
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1978 PrestonMixed team
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1980 GroningenMixed team
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1972 Karlskrona Mixed team
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1974 Vienna Mixed team
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg1972 KarlskronaMen's singles
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg1974 ViennaMen's singles
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg1974 ViennaMen's doubles
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg1980 GroningenMen's doubles
European Junior Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1969 Voorburg Boys' singles
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg1969 VoorburgBoys' doubles

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.

Contents

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

YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1977 Malmö Isstadion, Malmö, Sweden Flag of Denmark.svg Svend Pri 15–5, 15–6 Med 1.png Gold

Men's doubles

YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult
1980 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Indonesia.svg Rudy Heryanto
Flag of Indonesia.svg Kartono
7–15, 7–15 Med 3.png Bronze

World Cup

Men's singles

YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1979 Tokyo, Japan Flag of Indonesia.svg Iie Sumirat 7–15, 7–15 Med 3.png Bronze
1980 Kyoto, Japan Flag of Japan.svg Masao Tsuchida 10–15, 13–15 Med 3.png Bronze

Men's doubles

YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult
1979 Tokyo, Japan Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Japan.svg Masao Tsuchida
Flag of Japan.svg Yoshitaka Iino
13–15, 10–15 Med 3.png Bronze
1980 Kyoto, Japan Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Indonesia.svg Ade Chandra
Flag of Indonesia.svg Christian Hadinata
6–15, 3–15 Med 2.png Silver

European Championships

Men's singles

YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1972 Karlskrona Idrottshall, Karlskrona, Sweden Flag of Denmark.svg Klaus Kaagaard 13–18, 15–8, 7–15 Med 3.png Bronze
1974 Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria Flag of Sweden.svg Sture Johnsson 15–4, 6–15, 8–15 Med 3.png Bronze
1976 Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin, Ireland Flag of Denmark.svg Elo Hansen 15–4, 15–7 Med 1.png Gold
1978 Guild Hall, Preston, England Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Kihlström 10–15, 15–6, 15–12 Med 1.png Gold
1980 Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands Flag of Denmark.svg Morten Frost 15–4, 1–15, 17–14 Med 1.png Gold

Men's doubles

YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult
1974 Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria Flag of Denmark.svg Elo Hansen Flag of Germany.svg Willi Braun
Flag of Germany.svg Roland Maywald
8–15, 6–15 Med 3.png Bronze
1980 Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Sweden.svg Stefan Karlsson
Flag of Sweden.svg Claes Nordin
3–15, 13–18 Med 3.png Bronze

European Junior Championships

Boys' singles

YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1969 Sporthal de Vliegermolen, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Netherlands Flag of Denmark.svg Preben Boesen 15–0, 15–1 Med 1.png Gold

Boys' doubles

YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult
1969 Sporthal de Vliegermolen, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Netherlands Flag of Denmark.svg Hans Røpke Flag of England.svg Keith Arthur
Flag of England.svg Ray Stevens
15–9, 10–15, 10–15 Med 3.png Bronze

International tournaments (30 titles, 34 runners-up)

Men's singles

YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
1973 Denmark Open Flag of Indonesia.svg Rudy Hartono 14–17, 12–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1973 India Open Flag of Denmark.svg Svend Pri 8–15, 7–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1974 Portugal International Flag of Denmark.svg Elo Hansen 5–15, 9–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1974 Nordic Championships Flag of Denmark.svg Svend Pri15–9, 10–15, 5–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1975 Dutch Open Flag of Sweden.svg Sture Johnsson 14–15, 15–0, 15–10Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1975 German Open Flag of England.svg Paul Whetnall 15–10, 15–12Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1975 Jamaica International Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jamie Paulson 15–6, 15–2Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1975Nordic Championships Flag of Sweden.svg Sture Johnsson6–15, 15–12, 3–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1975 Norwegian International Flag of Sweden.svg Sture Johnsson15–1, 15–5Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1976Denmark Open Flag of Denmark.svg Svend Pri15–9, 5–15, 10–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1976Dutch Open Flag of England.svg Ray Stevens 15–10, 15–1Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1976German Open Flag of England.svg Paul Whetnall14–17, 10–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1976Nordic Championships Flag of Denmark.svg Svend Pri15–4, 15–0Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1976Norwegian International Flag of Sweden.svg Sture Johnsson4–15, 15–1, 7–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1977 Swedish Open Flag of Indonesia.svg Liem Swie King 4–15, 8–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1977 Canadian Open Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Kihlström 12–15, 15–7, 15–10Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1977 All England Flag of Indonesia.svg Liem Swie King15–17, 15–11, 15–8Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1977Denmark Open Flag of Denmark.svg Svend Pri15–12, 15–7Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1977 Japan Open Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Kihlström15–9, 13–15, 10–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1978Swedish Open Flag of Denmark.svg Svend Pri3–15, 8–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1978Dutch Open Flag of Denmark.svg Svend Pri15–3, 3–15, 15–7Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1978Canadian Open Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Kihlström14–17, 15–11, 18–16Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1978Nordic Championships Flag of Denmark.svg Morten Frost 15–5, 6–15, 4–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1979Swedish Open Flag of England.svg Ray Stevens 15–7, 15–0Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1979Dutch Open Flag of Denmark.svg Morten Frost15–6, 3–15, 17–15Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1979Denmark Open Flag of Denmark.svg Morten Frost15–7, 15–7Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1979 All England Flag of Indonesia.svg Liem Swie King7–15, 8–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1979Canadian Open Flag of Denmark.svg Morten Frost7–15, 17–14, 7–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1979Nordic Championships Flag of Denmark.svg Morten Frost6–15, 4–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1980 Chinese Taipei Open Flag of Indonesia.svg Iie Sumirat 15–7, 8–15, 18–16Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1980Victor Cup Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Kihlström7–15, 10–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1981Nordic Championships Flag of Denmark.svg Morten Frost17–18, 5–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1982 Scottish Open Flag of Denmark.svg Morten Frost4–15, 2–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up

Men's doubles

YearTournamentPartnerOpponentScoreResult
1970 Nordic Championships Flag of Denmark.svg Jørgen Mortensen Flag of Denmark.svg Svend Pri
Flag of Denmark.svg Per Walsøe
8–15, 8–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1973Nordic Championships Flag of Denmark.svg Elo Hansen Flag of Denmark.svg Svend Pri
Flag of Denmark.svg Poul Petersen
16–18, 17–16, 15–10Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1974 Portugal International Flag of Denmark.svg Elo Hansen Flag of England.svg David Hunt
Flag of England.svg William Kidd
12–15, 15–8, 10–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1974Nordic Championships Flag of Denmark.svg Elo Hansen Flag of Denmark.svg Svend Pri
Flag of Denmark.svg Poul Petersen
10–15, 6–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1975 Jamaica International Flag of Denmark.svg Elo Hansen Flag of England.svg Mike Tredgett
Flag of England.svg Ray Stevens
15–13, 4–15, 11–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1975 Mexico International Flag of Denmark.svg Elo Hansen Flag of Sweden.svg Sture Johnsson
Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Kihlström
11–15, 15–13, 15–5Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1975Nordic Championships Flag of Denmark.svg Elo Hansen Flag of Sweden.svg Bengt Fröman
Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Kihlström
9–15, 2–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1975 Norwegian International Flag of Denmark.svg Elo Hansen Flag of Sweden.svg Bengt Fröman
Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Kihlström
5–15, 15–5, 18–17Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1976 Swedish Open Flag of Denmark.svg Elo Hansen Flag of Denmark.svg Jesper Helledie
Flag of Denmark.svg Jørgen Mortensen
15–0, 15–2Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1976 Dutch Open Flag of Denmark.svg Elo Hansen Flag of Denmark.svg Klaus Kaagaard
Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard
15–6, 15–12Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1976 Denmark Open Flag of Denmark.svg Elo Hansen Flag of England.svg David Eddy
Flag of England.svg Eddy Sutton
13–15, 11–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1976Norwegian International Flag of Denmark.svg Elo Hansen Flag of Sweden.svg Bengt Fröman
Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Kihlström
6–15, 12–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1977 Japan Open Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Japan.svg Nobutaka Ikeda
Flag of Japan.svg Shoichi Toganoo
15–9, 15–2Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1977Denmark Open Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Sweden.svg Bengt Fröman
Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Kihlström
6–15, 8–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1977Nordic Championships Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Sweden.svg Bengt Fröman
Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Kihlström
15–4, 12–15, 12–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1978Denmark Open Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Indonesia.svg Ade Chandra
Flag of Indonesia.svg Christian Hadinata
15–6, 15–11Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1978 Canadian Open Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Sweden.svg Bengt Fröman
Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Kihlström
15–9, 10–15, retiredSilver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1978Swedish Open Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Sweden.svg Bengt Fröman
Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Kihlström
15–18, 15–9, 15–8Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1978Nordic Championships Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Sweden.svg Bengt Fröman
Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Kihlström
15–5, 15–9Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1979Canadian Open Flag of Denmark.svg Morten Frost Flag of Indonesia.svg Ade Chandra
Flag of Indonesia.svg Christian Hadinata
5–15, 1–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1979Swedish Open Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Fladberg
Flag of Denmark.svg Morten Frost
15–12, 12–15, 15–10Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1979Nordic Championships Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Sweden.svg Bengt Fröman
Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Kihlström
15–13, 11–15, 14–17Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1980Copenhagen Cup Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Fladberg
Flag of Denmark.svg Morten Frost
15–8, 15–6Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1980Denmark Open Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Indonesia.svg Ade Chandra
Flag of Indonesia.svg Christian Hadinata
15–10, 10–15, 15–10Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1980 Chinese Taipei Open Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Indonesia.svg Bobby Ertanto
Flag of Indonesia.svg Hadibowo
13–18, 5–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1980Victor Cup Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Kihlström
Flag of Sweden.svg Claes Nordin
5–15, 17–18Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1981Japan Open Flag of India.svg Prakash Padukone Flag of Indonesia.svg Christian Hadinata
Flag of Indonesia.svg Lius Pongoh
4–15, 5–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1981Nordic Championships Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Skovgaard Flag of Denmark.svg Steen Fladberg
Flag of Denmark.svg Morten Frost
9–15, 5–15Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up

Mixed doubles

YearTournamentPartnerOpponentScoreResult
1972 Canadian Open Flag of Denmark.svg Pernille Kaagaard Flag of England.svg Elliot Stuart
Flag of Sweden.svg Eva Twedberg
15–11, 18–17Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1972 U.S. Open Flag of Denmark.svg Pernille Kaagaard Flag of England.svg Elliot Stuart
Flag of Sweden.svg Eva Twedberg
15–5, 15–1Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1973 Mexico International Flag of the United States.svg Carlene Starkey Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg G. Harris
Flag of the United States.svg Madalene Steinbroner
15–12, 15–1Gold medal icon.svgWinner

References

  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.