Flemming Delfs

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 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 (men's international) teams between 1972 and 1982, two of which (1973, 1979) 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 the Danish distributor for Patrick.

Achievements

World Championships

Men's singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1977	Malmö Isstadion, Malmö, Sweden	Template:Flagicon Svend Pri	15–5, 15–6	Gold Gold

Men's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1980	Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Rudy Heryanto Template:Flagicon Kartono	7–15, 7–15	Bronze Bronze

World Cup

Men's singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1979	Tokyo, Japan	Template:Flagicon Iie Sumirat	7–15, 7–15	Bronze Bronze
1980	Kyoto, Japan	Template:Flagicon Masao Tsuchida	10–15, 13–15	Bronze Bronze

Men's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1979	Tokyo, Japan	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Masao Tsuchida Template:Flagicon Yoshitaka Iino	13–15, 10–15	Bronze Bronze
1980	Kyoto, Japan	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Ade Chandra Template:Flagicon Christian Hadinata	6–15, 3–15	Silver Silver

European Championships

Men's singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1972	Karlskrona Idrottshall, Karlskrona, Sweden	Template:Flagicon Klaus Kaagaard	13–18, 15–8, 7–15	Bronze Bronze
1974	Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria	Template:Flagicon Sture Johnsson	15–4, 6–15, 8–15	Bronze Bronze
1976	Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin, Ireland	Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	15–4, 15–7	Gold Gold
1978	Guild Hall, Preston, England	Template:Flagicon Thomas Kihlström	10–15, 15–6, 15–12	Gold Gold
1980	Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands	Template:Flagicon Morten Frost	15–4, 1–15, 17–14	Gold Gold

Men's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1974	Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria	Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	Template:Flagicon Willi Braun Template:Flagicon Roland Maywald	8–15, 6–15	Bronze Bronze
1980	Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson Template:Flagicon Claes Nordin	3–15, 13–18	Bronze Bronze

European Junior Championships

Boys' singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1969	Sporthal de Vliegermolen, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Netherlands	Template:Flagicon Preben Boesen	15–0, 15–1	Gold Gold

Boys' doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1969	Sporthal de Vliegermolen, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Netherlands	Template:Flagicon Hans Røpke	Template:Flagicon Keith Arthur Template:Flagicon Ray Stevens	15–9, 10–15, 10–15	Bronze Bronze

International tournaments (30 titles, 34 runners-up)

Men's singles

Year	Tournament	Opponent	Score	Result
1973	Denmark Open	Template:Flagicon Rudy Hartono	14–17, 12–15	Runner-up
1973	India Open	Template:Flagicon Svend Pri	8–15, 7–15	Runner-up
1974	Portugal International	Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	5–15, 9–15	Runner-up
1974	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Svend Pri	15–9, 10–15, 5–15	Runner-up
1975	Dutch Open	Template:Flagicon Sture Johnsson	14–15, 15–0, 15–10	Winner
1975	German Open	Template:Flagicon Paul Whetnall	15–10, 15–12	Winner
1975	Jamaica International	Template:Flagicon Jamie Paulson	15–6, 15–2	Winner
1975	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Sture Johnsson	6–15, 15–12, 3–15	Runner-up
1975	Norwegian International	Template:Flagicon Sture Johnsson	15–1, 15–5	Winner
1976	Denmark Open	Template:Flagicon Svend Pri	15–9, 5–15, 10–15	Runner-up
1976	Dutch Open	Template:Flagicon Ray Stevens	15–10, 15–1	Winner
1976	German Open	Template:Flagicon Paul Whetnall	14–17, 10–15	Runner-up
1976	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Svend Pri	15–4, 15–0	Winner
1976	Norwegian International	Template:Flagicon Sture Johnsson	4–15, 15–1, 7–15	Runner-up
1977	Swedish Open	Template:Flagicon Liem Swie King	4–15, 8–15	Runner-up
1977	Canadian Open	Template:Flagicon Thomas Kihlström	12–15, 15–7, 15–10	Winner
1977	All England	Template:Flagicon Liem Swie King	15–17, 15–11, 15–8	Winner
1977	Denmark Open	Template:Flagicon Svend Pri	15–12, 15–7	Winner
1977	Japan Open	Template:Flagicon Thomas Kihlström	15–9, 13–15, 10–15	Runner-up
1978	Swedish Open	Template:Flagicon Svend Pri	3–15, 8–15	Runner-up
1978	Dutch Open	Template:Flagicon Svend Pri	15–3, 3–15, 15–7	Winner
1978	Canadian Open	Template:Flagicon Thomas Kihlström	14–17, 15–11, 18–16	Winner
1978	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Morten Frost	15–5, 6–15, 4–15	Runner-up
1979	Swedish Open	Template:Flagicon Ray Stevens	15–7, 15–0	Winner
1979	Dutch Open	Template:Flagicon Morten Frost	15–6, 3–15, 17–15	Winner
1979	Denmark Open	Template:Flagicon Morten Frost	15–7, 15–7	Winner
1979	All England	Template:Flagicon Liem Swie King	7–15, 8–15	Runner-up
1979	Canadian Open	Template:Flagicon Morten Frost	7–15, 17–14, 7–15	Runner-up
1979	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Morten Frost	6–15, 4–15	Runner-up
1980	Chinese Taipei Open	Template:Flagicon Iie Sumirat	15–7, 8–15, 18–16	Winner
1980	Victor Cup	Template:Flagicon Thomas Kihlström	7–15, 10–15	Runner-up
1981	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Morten Frost	17–18, 5–15	Runner-up
1982	Scottish Open	Template:Flagicon Morten Frost	4–15, 2–15	Runner-up

Men's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1970	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Jørgen Mortensen	Template:Flagicon Svend Pri Template:Flagicon Per Walsøe	8–15, 8–15	Runner-up
1973	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	Template:Flagicon Svend Pri Template:Flagicon Poul Petersen	16–18, 17–16, 15–10	Winner
1974	Portugal International	Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	Template:Flagicon David Hunt Template:Flagicon William Kidd	12–15, 15–8, 10–15	Runner-up
1974	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	Template:Flagicon Svend Pri Template:Flagicon Poul Petersen	10–15, 6–15	Runner-up
1975	Jamaica International	Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	Template:Flagicon Mike Tredgett Template:Flagicon Ray Stevens	15–13, 4–15, 11–15	Runner-up
1975	Mexico International	Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	Template:Flagicon Sture Johnsson Template:Flagicon Thomas Kihlström	11–15, 15–13, 15–5	Winner
1975	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman Template:Flagicon Thomas Kihlström	9–15, 2–15	Runner-up
1975	Norwegian International	Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman Template:Flagicon Thomas Kihlström	5–15, 15–5, 18–17	Winner
1976	Swedish Open	Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	Template:Flagicon Jesper Helledie Template:Flagicon Jørgen Mortensen	15–0, 15–2	Winner
1976	Dutch Open	Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	Template:Flagicon Klaus Kaagaard Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	15–6, 15–12	Winner
1976	Denmark Open	Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	Template:Flagicon David Eddy Template:Flagicon Eddy Sutton	13–15, 11–15	Runner-up
1976	Norwegian International	Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman Template:Flagicon Thomas Kihlström	6–15, 12–15	Runner-up
1977	Japan Open	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Nobutaka Ikeda Template:Flagicon Shoichi Toganoo	15–9, 15–2	Winner
1977	Denmark Open	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman Template:Flagicon Thomas Kihlström	6–15, 8–15	Runner-up
1977	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman Template:Flagicon Thomas Kihlström	15–4, 12–15, 12–15	Runner-up
1978	Denmark Open	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Ade Chandra Template:Flagicon Christian Hadinata	15–6, 15–11	Winner
1978	Canadian Open	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman Template:Flagicon Thomas Kihlström	15–9, 10–15, retired	Runner-up
1978	Swedish Open	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman Template:Flagicon Thomas Kihlström	15–18, 15–9, 15–8	Winner
1978	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman Template:Flagicon Thomas Kihlström	15–5, 15–9	Winner
1979	Canadian Open	Template:Flagicon Morten Frost	Template:Flagicon Ade Chandra Template:Flagicon Christian Hadinata	5–15, 1–15	Runner-up
1979	Swedish Open	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Steen Fladberg Template:Flagicon Morten Frost	15–12, 12–15, 15–10	Winner
1979	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman Template:Flagicon Thomas Kihlström	15–13, 11–15, 14–17	Runner-up
1980	Copenhagen Cup	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Steen Fladberg Template:Flagicon Morten Frost	15–8, 15–6	Winner
1980	Denmark Open	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Ade Chandra Template:Flagicon Christian Hadinata	15–10, 10–15, 15–10	Winner
1980	Chinese Taipei Open	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Bobby Ertanto Template:Flagicon Hadibowo	13–18, 5–15	Runner-up
1980	Victor Cup	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Thomas Kihlström Template:Flagicon Claes Nordin	5–15, 17–18	Runner-up
1981	Japan Open	Template:Flagicon Prakash Padukone	Template:Flagicon Christian Hadinata Template:Flagicon Lius Pongoh	4–15, 5–15	Runner-up
1981	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	Template:Flagicon Steen Fladberg Template:Flagicon Morten Frost	9–15, 5–15	Runner-up

Mixed doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1972	Canadian Open	Template:Flagicon Pernille Kaagaard	Template:Flagicon Elliot Stuart Template:Flagicon Eva Twedberg	15–11, 18–17	Winner
1972	U.S. Open	Template:Flagicon Pernille Kaagaard	Template:Flagicon Elliot Stuart Template:Flagicon Eva Twedberg	15–5, 15–1	Winner
1973	Mexico International	Template:Flagicon Carlene Starkey	Template:Flagicon G. Harris Template:Flagicon Madalene Steinbroner	15–12, 15–1	Winner

External links

• Flemming Delfs's Profile - Badminton.dk