Thomas Kihlström

Thomas Kihlström (born 11 December 1948) is a Swedish badminton player. He is known for his agility, tactical astuteness, and coolness under pressure. Though an impressive singles player early in his career, his greatest successes came in doubles. Partnering Stefan Karlsson, they were one of the top doubles pairs in their era.

Career

Kihlström won the 1983 IBF World Championships in mixed doubles with Nora Perry. He also won 16 medals at the European Championships, two of them in men's singles, two in mixed doubles, five in men's doubles and 7 in team competition. He shared two All-England men's doubles titles, one with Bengt Fröman in 1976 and the other with Stefan Karlsson in 1983. He also shared the All-England mixed doubles title with Nora Perry in 1983. From 1973 to 1988, Kihlström captured a total of twenty-four events at the Swedish National Championships. Kihlström competed during an era in which world class badminton became increasingly event-specialized. His skill as an "all-arounder" is demonstrated by the facts that he is the only player to have won medals in all three events, men's singles, men's doubles, and mixed doubles at the BWF World Championships, and is the only man to have won each of these three events at the Japan Open.

Achievements

World Championships

Men's singles

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

Men's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1977	Malmö Isstadion, Malmö, Sweden	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Tjun Tjun Template:Flagicon Johan Wahjudi	7–15, 11–15	Bronze Bronze

Mixed doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1983	Brøndbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark	Template:Flagicon Nora Perry	Template:Flagicon Steen Fladberg Template:Flagicon Pia Nielsen	15–1, 15–11	Gold Gold

World Cup

Mixed doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1983	Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Template:Flagicon Karen Chapman	Template:Flagicon Christian Hadinata Template:Flagicon Ivana Lie	15–12, 10–15, 4–15	Bronze Bronze
1984	Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia	Template:Flagicon Nora Perry	Template:Flagicon Christian Hadinata Template:Flagicon Ivana Lie	15–18, 15–13, 15–8	Gold Gold
1986	Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia	Template:Flagicon Christine Magnusson	Template:Flagicon Steen Fladberg Template:Flagicon Gillian Clark	4–15, 15–8, 7–15	Bronze Bronze

World Games

Men's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1981	San Jose Civic Auditorium, California, United States	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Sun Zhian Template:Flagicon Yao Ximing	15–12, 4–15, 6–15	Silver Silver

Mixed doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1981	San Jose Civic Auditorium, California, United States	Template:Flagicon Gillian Gilks	Template:Flagicon Mike Tredgett Template:Flagicon Nora Perry	15–6, 18–14	Gold Gold

European Championships

Men's singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1974	Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria	Template:Flagicon Sture Johnsson	7–15, 8–15	Silver Silver
1978	Guild Hall, Preston, England	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs	15–10, 6–15, 12–15	Silver Silver

Men's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1976	Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin, Ireland	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Eddy Sutton Template:Flagicon Derek Talbot	13–15, 9–15	Bronze Bronze
1978	Guild Hall, Preston, England	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Ray Stevens Template:Flagicon Mike Tredgett	6–15, 5–15	Silver Silver
1980	Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson Template:Flagicon Claes Nordin	16–18, 15–9, 13–15	Silver Silver
1982	Sporthalle, Böblingen, West Germany	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Mike Tredgett Template:Flagicon Martin Dew	15–9, 15–3	Gold Gold
1986	Fyrishallen, Uppsala, Sweden	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Steen Fladberg Template:Flagicon Jesper Helledie	12–15, 17–18	Silver Silver

Mixed doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1984	Guild Hall, Preston, England	Template:Flagicon Maria Bengtsson	Template:Flagicon Martin Dew Template:Flagicon Gillian Gilks	5–15, 15–17	Silver Silver
1986	Fyrishallen, Uppsala, Sweden	Template:Flagicon Maria Bengtsson	Template:Flagicon Martin Dew Template:Flagicon Gillian Gilks	8–15, 8–15	Bronze Bronze

IBF World Grand Prix

The World Badminton Grand Prix was sanctioned by the International Badminton Federation from 1983 to 2006.

Men's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1983	Swedish Open	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Steen Fladberg Template:Flagicon Jesper Helledie	15–4, 13–15, 10–15	Runner-up
1983	All England Open	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Martin Dew Template:Flagicon Mike Tredgett	15–10, 15–13	Winner
1984	Chinese Taipei Open	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Steen Fladberg Template:Flagicon Jesper Helledie	15–3, 15–6	Winner
1984	Japan Open	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Martin Dew Template:Flagicon Steve Baddeley	15–6, 15–6	Winner
1984	Swedish Open	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Kim Moon-soo Template:Flagicon Park Joo-bong	8–15, 15–10, 8–15	Runner-up
1985	Swedish Open	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Ding Qiqing Template:Flagicon Li Yongbo	12–15, 18–14, 15–18	Runner-up

Mixed doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1983	Swedish Open	Template:Flagicon Nora Perry	Template:Flagicon Dipak Tailor Template:Flagicon Barbara Sutton	15–7, 15–1	Winner
1983	All England Open	Template:Flagicon Nora Perry	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard Template:Flagicon Anne Skovgaard	18–16, 11–15, 15–6	Winner
1985	Swedish Open	Template:Flagicon Maria Bengtsson	Template:Flagicon Lee Deuk-choon Template:Flagicon Chung Myung-hee	15–5, 11–15, 15–7	Winner
1985	All England Open	Template:Flagicon Gillian Clark	Template:Flagicon Billy Gilliland Template:Flagicon Nora Perry	10–15, 12–15	Runner-up
1986	World Grand Prix Finals	Template:Flagicon Christine Magnusson	Template:Flagicon Nigel Tier Template:Flagicon Gillian Gowers	15–8, 4–15, 8–15	Runner-up

International tournaments

Men's singles

Year	Tournament	Opponent	Score	Result
1972	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Sture Johnsson	3–15, 14–17	Runner-up
1972	Norwegian International	Template:Flagicon Petter Thoresen	15–7, 15–4	Winner
1973	USSR International	Template:Flagicon Wolfgang Bochow	10–15, 15–4, 8–15	Runner-up
1973	Norwegian International	Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	10–15, 8–15	Runner-up
1975	Mexican Open	Template:Flagicon Sture Johnsson	6–15, 15–11, 15–11	Winner
1976	U.S. Open	Template:Flagicon Paul Whetnall	14–17, 10–15	Runner-up
1977	Canada Open	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs	15–12, 7–15, 10–15	Runner-up
1977	Japan Open	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs	9–15, 15–13, 15–10	Winner
1977	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs	10–15, 15–9, 13–15	Runner-up
1978	Denmark Open	Template:Flagicon Liem Swie King	15–8, 9–15, 7–15	Runner-up
1978	Canada Open	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs	17–14, 11–15, 16–18	Runner-up
1980	Norwegian International	Template:Flagicon Kenneth Larsen	15–0, 15–11	Winner
1980	Victor Cup	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs	15–7, 15–10	Winner
1980	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Morten Frost	4–15, 7–15	Runner-up
1981	Canada Open	Template:Flagicon Nick Yates	16–17, 12–15	Runner-up

Men's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1971	Norwegian International	Template:Flagicon Kurt Johnsson	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman Template:Flagicon Sture Johnsson	15–12, 15–9	Winner
1972	Norwegian International	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Klaus Kaagaard Template:Flagicon Per Walsøe	14–18, 13–18	Runner-up
1973	USSR International	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Wolfgang Bochow Template:Flagicon Roland Maywald	15–13, 15–10	Winner
1973	Norwegian International	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Fraser Gow Template:Flagicon Robert McCoig	7–15, 18–15, 15–18	Winner
1975	German Open	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon David Eddy Template:Flagicon Eddy Sutton	15–13, 15–5	Winner
1975	Norwegian International	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	15–5, 5–15, 17–18	Runner-up
1975	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	15–9, 15–2	Winner
1975	Mexican Open	Template:Flagicon Sture Johnsson	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	15–11, 13–15, 5–15	Runner-up
1976	German Open	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Ray Stevens Template:Flagicon Mike Tredgett	17–15, 17–15	Winner
1976	All England Open	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Svend Pri Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	15–12, 17–15	Winner
1976	Norwegian International	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs Template:Flagicon Elo Hansen	15–6, 15–12	Winner
1976	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Svend Pri Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	15–10, 15–1	Winner
1976	U.S. Open	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Willi Braun Template:Flagicon Roland Maywald	15–18, 12–15	Runner-up
1977	Swedish Open	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Ade Chandra Template:Flagicon Tjun Tjun	18–17, 16–17, 11–15	Runner-up
1977	German Open	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Gert Hansen Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	15–12, 15–9	Winner
1977	Denmark Open	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	15–6, 15–8	Winner
1977	Canada Open	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Eddy Sutton Template:Flagicon Derek Talbot	16–17, 15–11, 15–10	Winner
1977	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	4–15, 15–12, 15–12	Winner
1978	Swedish Open	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	18–15, 9–15, 8–15	Runner-up
1978	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	5–15, 9–15	Runner-up
1978	Canada Open	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	9–15, 15–10 retired	Winner
1979	English Masters	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Ray Stevens Template:Flagicon Mike Tredgett	18–16, 15–9	Winner
1979	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	13–15, 15–11, 17–14	Winner
1979	Polish International	Template:Flagicon Tor Sundberg	Template:Flagicon Michal Malý Template:Flagicon Juraj Lenart	15–3, 15–13	Winner
1980	Swedish Open	Template:Flagicon Bengt Fröman	Template:Flagicon Ade Chandra Template:Flagicon Christian Hadinata	5–15, 15–12, 9–15	Runner-up
1980	English Masters	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Ade Chandra Template:Flagicon Christian Hadinata	12–15, 12–15	Runner-up
1980	Norwegian International	Template:Flagicon Lars Wengberg	Template:Flagicon Peter Holm Template:Flagicon Hans Olaf Birkholm	15–7, 15–11	Winner
1980	Victor Cup	Template:Flagicon Claes Nordin	Template:Flagicon Flemming Delfs Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	15–5, 18–17	Winner
1981	Copenhagen Cup	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Rudy Heryanto Template:Flagicon Kartono	15–10, 12–15, 17–15	Winner
1981	Swedish Open	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Bobby Ertanto Template:Flagicon Hadibowo	15–6, 15–4	Winner
1981	English Masters	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Martin Dew Template:Flagicon Mike Tredgett	9–15, 15–2, 10–15	Runner-up
1981	Canada Open	Template:Flagicon Ray Stevens	Template:Flagicon Steve Baddeley Template:Flagicon Martin Dew	15–8, 15–11	Winner
1981	India Open	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Rudy Heryanto Template:Flagicon Kartono	6–15, 15–8, 17–15	Winner
1982	Swedish Open	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Christian Hadinata Template:Flagicon Lius Pongoh	11–15, 8–15	Runner-up
1982	India Open	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Park Joo-bong Template:Flagicon Lee Eun-ku	15–10, 15–12	Winner
1982	Scandinavian Cup	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Steen Fladberg Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard	15–13, 13–15, 15–10	Winner
1983	Chinese Taipei Open	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Bobby Ertanto Template:Flagicon Hadibowo	9–15, 11–15	Runner-up
1983	Japan Open	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Rudy Heryanto Template:Flagicon Razif Sidek	18–14, 6–15, 15–6	Winner
1983	English Masters	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Rudy Heryanto Template:Flagicon Kartono	12–15, 15–8, 15–11	Winner
1983	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Morten Frost Template:Flagicon Jens Peter Nierhoff	15–12, 17–15	Winner
1984	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Mark Christiansen Template:Flagicon Michael Kjeldsen	15–11, 14–18, 18–14	Winner
1985	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Mark Christiansen Template:Flagicon Michael Kjeldsen	15–6, 15–6	Winner

Mixed doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1975	Mexican Open	Template:Flagicon Judianne Kelly	Template:Flagicon Sture Johnsson Template:Flagicon Ofelia de Telge	15–9, 15–8	Winner
1976	U.S. Open	Template:Flagicon Pam Brady	Template:Flagicon David Eddy Template:Flagicon Susan Whetnall	6–15, 15–10, 12–15	Runner-up
1981	Dutch Open	Template:Flagicon Gillian Gilks	Template:Flagicon Mike Tredgett Template:Flagicon Nora Perry	15–12, 15–6	Winner
1981	Canada Open	Template:Flagicon Gillian Gilks	Template:Flagicon Ray Stevens Template:Flagicon Nora Perry	12–15, 15–6, 15–0	Winner
1982	Denmark Open	Template:Flagicon Nora Perry	Template:Flagicon Martin Dew Template:Flagicon Gillian Gilks	15–11, 15–9	Winner
1982	Victor Cup	Template:Flagicon Nora Perry	Template:Flagicon Martin Dew Template:Flagicon Gillian Gilks	9–15, 15–9, 15–9	Winner
1982	Scandinavian Cup	Template:Flagicon Nora Perry	Template:Flagicon Steen Fladberg Template:Flagicon Pia Nielsen	18–15, 15–12	Winner
1982	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Maria Bengtsson	Template:Flagicon Steen Skovgaard Template:Flagicon Hanne Adsbøl	6–15, 10–15	Runner-up
1982	India Open	Template:Flagicon Jane Webster	Template:Flagicon Billy Gilliland Template:Flagicon Karen Chapman	14–18, 11–15	Runner-up
1983	Japan Open	Template:Flagicon Nora Perry	Template:Flagicon Martin Dew Template:Flagicon Jane Webster	15–5, 15–2	Winner
1983	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Maria Bengtsson	Template:Flagicon Steen Fladberg Template:Flagicon Grete Mogensen	15–2, 9–15, 15–5	Winner
1985	Malaysia Master	Template:Flagicon Christine Magnusson	Template:Flagicon Steen Fladberg Template:Flagicon Nora Perry	9–15, 5–15	Runner-up
			Template:Flagicon Martin Dew Template:Flagicon Gillian Gilks	17–15, 15–12
			Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson Template:Flagicon Maria Bengtsson	15–10, 9–15, 10–15
1985	Nordic Championships	Template:Flagicon Christine Magnusson	Template:Flagicon Stefan Karlsson Template:Flagicon Maria Bengtsson	9–15, 7–15	Runner-up