Flemming Delfs


Flemming Delfs is a former Danish badminton player who won Danish national and international championships from the early 1970s to the early 1980s.

Career

Delfs is especially noteworthy for winning men's singles at the first IBF World Championships held in Malmö, Sweden in 1977. He dominated that same 1976/1977 season by winning nearly all other noteworthy tournaments, including the All-England Championships. Delfs won three consecutive European men's singles titles in 1976, 1978, and 1980. He played on all four Danish Thomas Cup teams between 1972 and 1982, two of which reached the championship round before losing to Indonesia. 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.

Later life

After ending his active career, Delfs became CEO and co-owner of Patrick Skandinavia A/S.

Achievements

World Championships

Men's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1977Malmö Isstadion, Malmö, Sweden Svend Pri15–5, 15–6 Gold

Men's doubles
YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult
1980Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia Steen Skovgaard Rudy Heryanto
Hariamanto Kartono
7–15, 7–15 Bronze

World Cup

Men's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1979Tokyo, Japan lie Sumirat7–15, 7–15 Bronze

European Championships

Men's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1972Karlskrona, Sweden Bronze
1974Vienna, Austria Bronze
1976Dublin, Ireland Elo Hansen Gold
1978Preston, England Thomas Kihlström Gold
1980Groningen, Netherlands Morten Frost Gold

International tournaments

Men's singles
YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
1973Denmark Open Rudy Hartono14–17, 12–15 Runner-up
1973India Open Svend Pri8–15, 7–15 Runner-up
1974Portugal International Elo Hansen Runner-up
1975Dutch Open Sture Johnsson14–15, 15–0, 15–10 Winner
1975German Open Paul Whetnall15–10, 15–12 Winner
1975Jamaica International Jamie Paulson15–6, 15–2 Winner
1976Denmark Open Svend Pri15–9, 5–15, 10–15 Runner-up
1976Dutch Open Winner
1976German Open Paul Whetnall Runner-up
1977Swedish Open Liem Swie King4–15, 8–15 Runner-up
1977Canada Open Thomas Kihlström12–15, 15–7, 15–10 Winner
1977All England Liem Swie King15–17, 15–11, 15–8 Winner
1977Denmark Open Svend Pri15–12, 15–7 Winner
1977Japan Open Thomas Kihlström15–9, 13–15, 10–15 Runner-up
1978Swedish Open Svend Pri3–15, 8–15 Runner-up
1978Dutch Open Svend Pri15–3, 3–15, 15–7 Winner
1978Canada Open Thomas Kihlström14–17, 15–11, 18–16 Winner
1979Swedish Open Ray Stevens15–7, 15–0 Winner
1979Dutch Open Morten Frost15–6, 3–15, 17–15 Winner
1979Denmark Open Morten Frost15–7, 15–7 Winner
1979All England Liem Swie King7–15, 8–15 Runner-up
1979Canada Open Morten Frost7–15, 17–14, 7–15 Runner-up
1980Chinese Taipei Open lie Sumirat Winner
1980Victor Cup Thomas Kihlström7–15, 10–15 Runner-up
1982Scottish Open Morten Frost4–15, 2–15 Runner-up

Men's doubles
YearTournamentPartnerOpponentScoreResult
1974Portugal International Elo Hansen David Hunt
William Kidd
Runner-up
1975Jamaica International Elo Hansen Mike Tredgett
Ray Stevens
15–13, 4–15, 11–15 Runner-up
1976Swedish Open Elo Hansen Winner
1976Dutch Open Elo Hansen Winner
1976Denmark Open Elo Hansen David Eddy
Eddy Sutton
13–15, 11–15 Runner-up
1977Japan Open Steen Skovgaard Nobutaka Ikeda
Shoichi Toganoo
15–9, 15–2 Winner
1977Denmark Open Steen Skovgaard Thomas Kihlström
Bengt Fröman
6–15, 8–15 Runner-up
1978Denmark Open Steen Skovgaard Christian Hadinata
Ade Chandra
15–6, 15–11 Winner
1978Canada Open Steen Skovgaard Thomas Kihlström
Bengt Fröman
15–9, 10–15, retired Runner-up
1978Swedish Open Steen Skovgaard Thomas Kihlström
Bengt Fröman
15–18, 15–9, 15–8 Winner
1979Canada Open Morten Frost Christian Hadinata
Ade Chandra
5–15, 1–15 Runner-up
1979Swedish Open Steen Skovgaard Steen Fladberg
Morten Frost
15–12, 12–15, 15–10 Winner
1980Copenhagen Cup Steen Skovgaard Steen Fladberg
Morten Frost
Winner
1980Denmark Open Steen Skovgaard Christian Hadinata
Ade Chandra
15–10, 10–15, 15–10 Winner
1980Chinese Taipei Open Steen Skovgaard Hadibowo Susanto
Bobby Ertanto
Runner-up
1980Victor Cup Steen Skovgaard Thomas Kihlström
Claes Nordin
5–15, 17–18 Runner-up
1981Japan Open Prakash Padukone Christian Hadinata
Lius Pongoh
4–15, 5–15 Runner-up

Mixed doubles
YearTournamentPartnerOpponentScoreResult
1973Mexico International Carlene Starkey G. Harris
Madalene Steinbroner
15–12, 15–1 Winner