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.
Career Delfs is especially noteworthy for winning men's singlesMohapatra, Bikash (07 September 2021). "Happy 70th...To A Forgotten Champion From The 1970s", [Badminton Bladet.DK]. at the first IBF World Championships held in Malmö, Sweden in 1977.Pat Davis, The Guinness Book of Badminton (Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlatives Ltd., 1983) 109. He dominated that same 1976/1977 season by winning nearly all other noteworthy tournaments, including the All-England Championships.Davis, 149 Delfs won three consecutive European men's singles titles in 1976, 1978, and 1980.Davis, 115. 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.Davis 125-128. 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.Davis, 149.
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 Result1972 Karlskrona Idrottshall, Karlskrona, Sweden Klaus Kaagaard 13–18, 15–8, 7–15 Bronze1974 Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria Sture Johnsson 15–4, 6–15, 8–15 Bronze1976 Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin, Ireland Elo Hansen 15–4, 15–7 Gold1978 Guild Hall, Preston, England Thomas Kihlström 10–15, 15–6, 15–12 Gold1980 Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands Morten Frost 15–4, 1–15, 17–14 Gold
Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result1974 Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria Elo Hansen Willi Braun Roland Maywald 8–15, 6–15 Bronze1980 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 Result1973 Denmark Open Rudy Hartono 14–17, 12–15 Runner-up1973 India Open Svend Pri 8–15, 7–15 Runner-up1974 Portugal International Elo Hansen 5–15, 9–15 Runner-up1974 Nordic Championships Svend Pri 15–9, 10–15, 5–15 Runner-up1975 Dutch Open Sture Johnsson 14–15, 15–0, 15–10 Winner1975 German Open Paul Whetnall 15–10, 15–12 Winner1975 Jamaica International Jamie Paulson 15–6, 15–2 Winner1975 Nordic Championships Sture Johnsson 6–15, 15–12, 3–15 Runner-up1975 Norwegian International Sture Johnsson 15–1, 15–5 Winner1976 Denmark Open Svend Pri 15–9, 5–15, 10–15 Runner-up1976 Dutch Open Ray Stevens 15–10, 15–1 Winner1976 German Open Paul Whetnall 14–17, 10–15 Runner-up1976 Nordic Championships Svend Pri 15–4, 15–0 Winner1976 Norwegian International Sture Johnsson 4–15, 15–1, 7–15 Runner-up1977 Swedish Open Liem Swie King 4–15, 8–15 Runner-up1977 Canadian Open Thomas Kihlström 12–15, 15–7, 15–10 Winner1977 All England Liem Swie King 15–17, 15–11, 15–8 Winner1977 Denmark Open Svend Pri 15–12, 15–7 Winner1977 Japan Open Thomas Kihlström 15–9, 13–15, 10–15 Runner-up1978 Swedish Open Svend Pri 3–15, 8–15 Runner-up1978 Dutch Open Svend Pri 15–3, 3–15, 15–7 Winner1978 Canadian Open Thomas Kihlström 14–17, 15–11, 18–16 Winner1978 Nordic Championships Morten Frost 15–5, 6–15, 4–15 Runner-up1979 Swedish Open Ray Stevens 15–7, 15–0 Winner1979 Dutch Open Morten Frost 15–6, 3–15, 17–15 Winner1979 Denmark Open Morten Frost 15–7, 15–7 Winner1979 All England Liem Swie King 7–15, 8–15 Runner-up1979 Canadian Open Morten Frost 7–15, 17–14, 7–15 Runner-up1979 Nordic Championships Morten Frost 6–15, 4–15 Runner-up1980 Chinese Taipei Open Iie Sumirat 15–7, 8–15, 18–16 Winner1980 Victor Cup Thomas Kihlström 7–15, 10–15 Runner-up1981 Nordic Championships Morten Frost 17–18, 5–15 Runner-up1982 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
References
External links Flemming Delfs's Profile - Badminton.dk