# 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. Kihlström is a fine doubles player with a superb technique and lovely touch. Partnering Stefan Karlsson, they have been one of the consistent pairs and making them as one of the great doubles pairs in the world 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 | Svend Pri | 6–15, 6–15 | Bronze |
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1977 | Malmö Isstadion, Malmö, Sweden | Bengt Fröman | Tjun Tjun Johan Wahjudi | 7–15, 11–15 | Bronze |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1983 | Brøndbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark | Nora Perry | Steen Fladberg Pia Nielsen | 15–1, 15–11 | Gold |

### World Cup

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

### World Games

Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1981 | San Jose Civic Auditorium, California, United States | Stefan Karlsson | Sun Zhian Yao Ximing | 15–12, 4–15, 6–15 | Silver |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1981 | San Jose Civic Auditorium, California, United States | Gillian Gilks | Mike Tredgett Nora Perry | 15–6, 18–14 | Gold |

### European Championships

Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1974 | Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria | Sture Johnsson | 7–15, 8–15 | Silver |
| 1978 | Guild Hall, Preston, England | Flemming Delfs | 15–10, 6–15, 12–15 | Silver |
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1976 | Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin, Ireland | Bengt Fröman | Eddy Sutton Derek Talbot | 13–15, 9–15 | Bronze |
| 1978 | Guild Hall, Preston, England | Bengt Fröman | Ray Stevens Mike Tredgett | 6–15, 5–15 | Silver |
| 1980 | Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands | Bengt Fröman | Stefan Karlsson Claes Nordin | 16–18, 15–9, 13–15 | Silver |
| 1982 | Sporthalle, Böblingen, West Germany | Stefan Karlsson | Mike Tredgett Martin Dew | 15–9, 15–3 | Gold |
| 1986 | Fyrishallen, Uppsala, Sweden | Stefan Karlsson | Steen Fladberg Jesper Helledie | 12–15, 17–18 | Silver |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1984 | Guild Hall, Preston, England | Maria Bengtsson | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 5–15, 15–17 | Silver |
| 1986 | Fyrishallen, Uppsala, Sweden | Maria Bengtsson | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 8–15, 8–15 | 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 | Stefan Karlsson | Steen Fladberg Jesper Helledie | 15–4, 13–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1983 | All England Open | Stefan Karlsson | Martin Dew Mike Tredgett | 15–10, 15–13 | Winner |
| 1984 | Chinese Taipei Open | Stefan Karlsson | Steen Fladberg Jesper Helledie | 15–3, 15–6 | Winner |
| 1984 | Japan Open | Stefan Karlsson | Martin Dew Steve Baddeley | 15–6, 15–6 | Winner |
| 1984 | Swedish Open | Stefan Karlsson | Kim Moon-soo Park Joo-bong | 8–15, 15–10, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | Swedish Open | Stefan Karlsson | Di Qiqing Li Yongbo | 12–15, 18–14, 15–18 | Runner-up |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1983 | Swedish Open | Nora Perry | Dipak Tailor Barbara Sutton | 15–7, 15–1 | Winner |
| 1983 | All England Open | Nora Perry | Steen Skovgaard Anne Skovgaard | 18–16, 11–15, 15–6 | Winner |
| 1985 | Swedish Open | Maria Bengtsson | Lee Deuk-choon Chung Myung-hee | 15–5, 11–15, 15–7 | Winner |
| 1985 | All England Open | Gillian Clark | Billy Gilliland Nora Perry | 10–15, 12–15 | Runner-up |
| 1986 | World Grand Prix Finals | Christine Magnusson | Nigel Tier Gillian Gowers | 15–8, 4–15, 8–15 | Runner-up |

### International tournaments

Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1972 | Nordic Championships | Sture Johnsson | 3–15, 14–17 | Runner-up |
| 1972 | Norwegian International | Petter Thoresen | 15–7, 15–4 | Winner |
| 1973 | USSR International | Wolfgang Bochow | 10–15, 15–4, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 1973 | Norwegian International | Elo Hansen | 10–15, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 1975 | Mexican Open | Sture Johnsson | 6–15, 15–11, 15–11 | Winner |
| 1976 | U.S. Open | Paul Whetnall | 14–17, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1977 | Canada Open | Flemming Delfs | 15–12, 7–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1977 | Japan Open | Flemming Delfs | 9–15, 15–13, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1977 | Nordic Championships | Flemming Delfs | 10–15, 15–9, 13–15 | Runner-up |
| 1978 | Denmark Open | Liem Swie King | 15–8, 9–15, 7–15 | Runner-up |
| 1978 | Canada Open | Flemming Delfs | 17–14, 11–15, 16–18 | Runner-up |
| 1980 | Norwegian International | Kenneth Larsen | 15–0, 15–11 | Winner |
| 1980 | Victor Cup | Flemming Delfs | 15–7, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1980 | Nordic Championships | Morten Frost | 4–15, 7–15 | Runner-up |
| 1981 | Canada Open | Nick Yates | 16–17, 12–15 | Runner-up |
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1971 | Norwegian International | Kurt Johnsson | Bengt Fröman Sture Johnsson | 15–12, 15–9 | Winner |
| 1972 | Norwegian International | Bengt Fröman | Klaus Kaagaard Per Walsøe | 14–18, 13–18 | Runner-up |
| 1973 | USSR International | Bengt Fröman | Wolfgang Bochow Roland Maywald | 15–13, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1973 | Norwegian International | Bengt Fröman | Fraser Gow Robert McCoig | 7–15, 18–15, 15–18 | Winner |
| 1975 | German Open | Bengt Fröman | David Eddy Eddy Sutton | 15–13, 15–5 | Winner |
| 1975 | Norwegian International | Bengt Fröman | Flemming Delfs Elo Hansen | 15–5, 5–15, 17–18 | Runner-up |
| 1975 | Nordic Championships | Bengt Fröman | Flemming Delfs Elo Hansen | 15–9, 15–2 | Winner |
| 1975 | Mexican Open | Sture Johnsson | Flemming Delfs Elo Hansen | 15–11, 13–15, 5–15 | Runner-up |
| 1976 | German Open | Bengt Fröman | Ray Stevens Mike Tredgett | 17–15, 17–15 | Winner |
| 1976 | All England Open | Bengt Fröman | Svend Pri Steen Skovgaard | 15–12, 17–15 | Winner |
| 1976 | U.S. Open | Bengt Fröman | Willi Braun Roland Maywald | 15–18, 12–15 | Runner-up |
| 1977 | Swedish Open | Bengt Fröman | Ade Chandra Tjun Tjun | 18–17, 16–17, 11–15 | Runner-up |
| 1977 | German Open | Bengt Fröman | Gert Hansen Steen Skovgaard | 15–12, 15–9 | Winner |
| 1977 | Denmark Open | Bengt Fröman | Flemming Delfs Steen Skovgaard | 15–6, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1977 | Canada Open | Bengt Fröman | Eddy Sutton Derek Talbot | 16–17, 15–11, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1977 | Nordic Championships | Bengt Fröman | Flemming Delfs Steen Skovgaard | 4–15, 15–12, 15–12 | Winner |
| 1978 | Swedish Open | Bengt Fröman | Flemming Delfs Steen Skovgaard | 18–15, 9–15, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 1978 | Nordic Championships | Bengt Fröman | Flemming Delfs Steen Skovgaard | 5–15, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 1978 | Canada Open | Bengt Fröman | Flemming Delfs Steen Skovgaard | 9–15, 15–10 retired | Winner |
| 1979 | English Masters | Bengt Fröman | Ray Stevens Mike Tredgett | 18–16, 15–9 | Winner |
| 1979 | Nordic Championships | Bengt Fröman | Flemming Delfs Steen Skovgaard | 13-15, 15-11, 17-14 | Winner |
| 1979 | Polish International | Tor Sundberg | Michal Malý Juraj Lenart | 15–3, 15–13 | Winner |
| 1980 | Swedish Open | Bengt Fröman | Ade Chandra Christian Hadinata | 5–15, 15–12, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 1980 | English Masters | Stefan Karlsson | Ade Chandra Christian Hadinata | 12–15, 12–15 | Runner-up |
| 1980 | Norwegian International | Lars Wengberg | Peter Holm Hans Olaf Birkholm | 15–7, 15–11 | Winner |
| 1980 | Victor Cup | Claes Nordin | Flemming Delfs Steen Skovgaard | 15–5, 18–17 | Winner |
| 1981 | Copenhagen Cup | Stefan Karlsson | Rudy Heryanto Kartono | 15–10, 12–15, 17–15 | Winner |
| 1981 | Swedish Open | Stefan Karlsson | Bobby Ertanto Hadibowo | 15–6, 15–4 | Winner |
| 1981 | English Masters | Stefan Karlsson | Martin Dew Mike Tredgett | 9–15, 15–2, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1981 | Canada Open | Ray Stevens | Steve Baddeley Martin Dew | 15–8, 15–11 | Winner |
| 1981 | India Open | Stefan Karlsson | Rudy Heryanto Kartono | 6–15, 15–8, 17–15 | Winner |
| 1982 | Swedish Open | Stefan Karlsson | Christian Hadinata Lius Pongoh | 11–15, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 1982 | Scandinavian Cup | Stefan Karlsson | Steen Fladberg Steen Skovgaard | 15–13, 13–15, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1983 | Chinese Taipei Open | Stefan Karlsson | Bobby Ertanto Hadibowo | 9–15, 11–15 | Runner-up |
| 1983 | Japan Open | Stefan Karlsson | Rudy Heryanto Razif Sidek | 18–14, 6–15, 15–6 | Winner |
| 1983 | English Masters | Stefan Karlsson | Rudy Heryanto Kartono | 12–15, 15–8, 15–11 | Winner |
| 1983 | Nordic Championships | Stefan Karlsson | Morten Frost Jens Peter Nierhoff | 15–12, 17–15 | Winner |
| 1984 | Nordic Championships | Stefan Karlsson | Mark Christiansen Michael Kjeldsen | 15–11, 14–18, 18–14 | Winner |
| 1985 | Nordic Championships | Stefan Karlsson | Mark Christiansen Michael Kjeldsen | 15–6, 15–6 | Winner |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1975 | Mexican Open | Judianne Kelly | Sture Johnsson Ofelia de Telge | 15–9, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1976 | U.S. Open | Pam Brady | David Eddy Susan Whetnall | 6–15, 15–10, 12–15 | Runner-up |
| 1981 | Dutch Open | Gillian Gilks | Mike Tredgett Nora Perry | 15–12, 15–6 | Winner |
| 1981 | Canada Open | Gillian Gilks | Ray Stevens Nora Perry | 12–15, 15–6, 15–0 | Winner |
| 1982 | Denmark Open | Nora Perry | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 15–11, 15–9 | Winner |
| 1982 | Victor Cup | Nora Perry | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 9–15, 15–9, 15–9 | Winner |
| 1982 | Scandinavian Cup | Nora Perry | Steen Fladberg Pia Nielsen | 18–15, 15–12 | Winner |
| 1982 | Nordic Championships | Maria Bengtsson | Steen Skovgaard Hanne Adsbøl | 6–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1983 | Japan Open | Nora Perry | Martin Dew Jane Webster | 15–5, 15–2 | Winner |
| 1983 | Nordic Championships | Maria Bengtsson | Steen Fladberg Grete Mogensen | 15–2, 9–15, 15–5 | Winner |
| 1985 | Malaysia Master | Christine Magnusson | Steen Fladberg Nora Perry | 9–15, 5–15 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | Malaysia Master | Christine Magnusson | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 17–15, 15–12 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | Malaysia Master | Christine Magnusson | Stefan Karlsson Maria Bengtsson | 15–10, 9–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | Nordic Championships | Christine Magnusson | Stefan Karlsson Maria Bengtsson | 9–15, 7–15 | Runner-up |