# Flemming Delfs

Flemming Delfs (born 7 September 1951) is a former 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 | 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 Hariamanto 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 |

### European Championships

Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1972 | Karlskrona, Sweden | Klaus Kaagaard | 13–18, 15–8, 7–15 | Bronze |
| 1974 | Vienna, Austria | Sture Johnsson | 15–4, 6–15, 8–15 | Bronze |
| 1976 | Dublin, Ireland | Elo Hansen | 15–4, 15–7 | Gold |
| 1978 | Preston, England | Thomas Kihlström | 10–15, 15–6, 15–12 | Gold |
| 1980 | Groningen, Netherlands | Morten Frost | 15–4, 1–15, 17–14 | Gold |

### International tournaments

Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1973 | Denmark Open | Rudy Hartono | 14–17, 12–15 | Runner-up |
| 1973 | India Open | Svend Pri | 8–15, 7–15 | Runner-up |
| 1974 | Portugal International | Elo Hansen | | Runner-up |
| 1975 | Dutch Open | Sture Johnsson | 14–15, 15–0, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1975 | German Open | Paul Whetnall | 15–10, 15–12 | Winner |
| 1975 | Jamaica International | Jamie Paulson | 15–6, 15–2 | Winner |
| 1976 | Denmark Open | Svend Pri | 15–9, 5–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1976 | Dutch Open | | | Winner |
| 1976 | German Open | Paul Whetnall | | Runner-up |
| 1977 | Swedish Open | Liem Swie King | 4–15, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 1977 | Canada Open | Thomas Kihlström | 12–15, 15–7, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1977 | All England | Liem Swie King | 15–17, 15–11, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1977 | Denmark Open | Svend Pri | 15–12, 15–7 | Winner |
| 1977 | Japan Open | Thomas Kihlström | 15–9, 13–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1978 | Swedish Open | Svend Pri | 3–15, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 1978 | Dutch Open | Svend Pri | 15–3, 3–15, 15–7 | Winner |
| 1978 | Canada Open | Thomas Kihlström | 14–17, 15–11, 18–16 | Winner |
| 1979 | Swedish Open | Ray Stevens | 15–7, 15–0 | Winner |
| 1979 | Dutch Open | Morten Frost | 15–6, 3–15, 17–15 | Winner |
| 1979 | Denmark Open | Morten Frost | 15–7, 15–7 | Winner |
| 1979 | All England | Liem Swie King | 7–15, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 1979 | Canada Open | Morten Frost | 7–15, 17–14, 7–15 | Runner-up |
| 1980 | Chinese Taipei Open | Iie Sumirat | | Winner |
| 1980 | Victor Cup | Thomas Kihlström | 7–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1982 | Scottish Open | Morten Frost | 4–15, 2–15 | Runner-up |
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1974 | Portugal International | Elo Hansen | David Hunt William Kidd | | Runner-up |
| 1975 | Jamaica International | Elo Hansen | Mike Tredgett Ray Stevens | 15–13, 4–15, 11–15 | Runner-up |
| 1976 | Swedish Open | Elo Hansen | | | Winner |
| 1976 | Dutch Open | Elo Hansen | | | Winner |
| 1976 | Denmark Open | Elo Hansen | David Eddy Eddy Sutton | 13–15, 11–15 | Runner-up |
| 1977 | Japan Open | Steen Skovgaard | Nobutaka Ikeda Shoichi Toganoo | 15–9, 15–2 | Winner |
| 1977 | Denmark Open | Steen Skovgaard | Thomas Kihlström Bengt Fröman | 6–15, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 1978 | Denmark Open | Steen Skovgaard | Christian Hadinata Ade Chandra | 15–6, 15–11 | Winner |
| 1978 | Canada Open | Steen Skovgaard | Thomas Kihlström Bengt Fröman | 15–9, 10–15, retired | Runner-up |
| 1978 | Swedish Open | Steen Skovgaard | Thomas Kihlström Bengt Fröman | 15–18, 15–9, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1979 | Canada Open | Morten Frost | Christian Hadinata Ade Chandra | 5–15, 1–15 | Runner-up |
| 1979 | Swedish Open | Steen Skovgaard | Steen Fladberg Morten Frost | 15–12, 12–15, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1980 | Copenhagen Cup | Steen Skovgaard | Steen Fladberg Morten Frost | | Winner |
| 1980 | Denmark Open | Steen Skovgaard | Christian Hadinata Ade Chandra | 15–10, 10–15, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1980 | Chinese Taipei Open | Steen Skovgaard | Hadibowo Susanto Bobby Ertanto | | 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 |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1973 | Mexico International | Carlene Starkey | G. Harris Madalene Steinbroner | 15–12, 15–1 | Winner |