# Darren Hall (badminton)

Darren James Hall (born 25 October 1965) is an English retired badminton player who is generally rated as one of the best men's singles players that England has produced and holds the record of 10 National singles titles.

## Career

Hall won a record ten English national singles titles from 1986 until 1999. During the 1993 championships he broke the existing record of five, set in 1981 by his cousin Ray Stevens.
He is the only Englishman since the 1930s to win the prestigious Danish Open (1992) in the men's singles. He won the singles gold medal at the 1988 European Badminton Championships, defeating Morten Frost in the final.
Hall represented England in a demonstration of badminton at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. He then competed in 1992 Summer Olympics in the men's singles. He lost in the second round to Zhao Jianhua, of China, 6–15, 9–15. In 1996, he played in the singles and doubles event. In the singles, he lost to Lee Gwang-jin of South Korea in the second round, 7–15, 11–15, and in the doubles event with Peter Knowles, they were defeated by Chinese pair Ge Cheng and Tao Xiaoqiang, 2–15, 3–15.
Hall competed at the Commonwealth Games in 1990 and 1998, and has collected a gold and three bronze medals.

## Achievements
### World Cup

Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1996 | Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia | Jeffer Rosobin | 15–9, 14–17, 9–14 | Bronze |

### Commonwealth Games

Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1990 | Auckland Badminton Hall, Auckland, New Zealand | Steve Baddeley | Walkover | Bronze |
| 1998 | Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Yong Hock Kin | 7–15, 1–15 | Bronze |

### European Championships

Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1988 | Badmintonsenteret, Kristiansand, Norway | Morten Frost | 8–15, 15–12, 15–9 | Gold |
| 1990 | Minor Arena of the Central Lenin Stadium, Moscow, Soviet Union | Steve Baddeley | 15–11, 3–15, 7–15 | Silver |

### European Junior Championships

Boys' doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1983 | Helsinki, Finland | Stuart Spurling | | –, – | Bronze |

### IBF World Grand Prix

The World Badminton Grand Prix was sanctioned by the International Badminton Federation from 1983 to 2006.
Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1987 | Dutch Open | Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen | 4–15, 1–15 | Runner-up |
| 1987 | German Open | Ib Frederiksen | 17–16, 4–15, 15–6 | Winner |
| 1987 | Hong Kong Open | Xiong Guobao | 15–6, 4–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1987 | Denmark Open | Torben Carlsen | 7–15, 4–15 | Runner-up |
| 1991 | Scottish Open | Jens Olsson | 11–15, 15–9, 15–1 | Winner |
| 1992 | Denmark Open | Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen | 15–11, 18–13 | Winner |

### IBF International

Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1984 | Welsh International | Morten Frost | 2–15, 6–15 | Runner-up |
| 1984 | Victor Cup | Lius Pongoh | 6–15, 2–15 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | Welsh International | | | Winner |
| 1986 | Welsh International | | | Winner |
| 1988 | Welsh International | | | Winner |
| 1992 | Wimbledon Open | Anders Nielsen | 15–8, 15–12 | Winner |
| 1993 | Welsh International | Peter Knowles | 14–17, 15–6, 15–5 | Winner |
| 1993 | Irish International | Tomas Johansson | Walkover | Winner |
| 1997 | Irish International | Daniel Eriksson | 15–12, 15–4 | Winner |
| 1998 | Portugal International | Niels Christian Kaldau | 16–18, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 1998 | Scottish International | Pontus Jäntti | 13–15, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 1998 | Irish International | Mark Constable | 15–7, 15–11 | Winner |
| 1999 | Irish International | Peter Knowles | 9–15, 4–15 | Runner-up |
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1982 | Portugal International | Ray Stevens | Billy Gilliland Dan Travers | 15–13, 15–8 | Winner |