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.
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| Country | Denmark | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 7 September 1951 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handedness | Right | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Men's singles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest ranking | 1 (1977) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Medal record 
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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  Hariamanto 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 | 
European Championships
    
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
    
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 | .svg.png.webp) 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 | .svg.png.webp) G. Harris  Madalene Steinbroner | 15–12, 15–1 |  Winner | 
References
    
- Mohapatra, Bikash (07 September 2021). "Happy 70th...To A Forgotten Champion From The 1970s", [Badminton Bladet.DK].
- Pat Davis, The Guinness Book of Badminton (Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlatives Ltd., 1983) 109.
- Davis, 149
- Davis, 115.
- Davis 125-128.
- Davis, 149.
External links
    
- Flemming Delfs's Profile - Badminton.dk Archived 2010-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
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