Thomas Kihlström

Thomas Kihlström
Kihlström in 1977
Personal information
CountrySweden
Born (1948-12-11) 11 December 1948
HandednessRight
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  Sweden
World Championships
1983 Copenhagen Mixed doubles
1977 Malmö Men's Singles
1977 Malmö Men's doubles
World Games
1981 Santa Clara Mixed doubles
1981 Santa Clara Men's doubles
World Cup
1984 Jakarta Mixed doubles
1983 Kuala Lumpur Mixed doubles
1986 Bandung–Jakarta Mixed doubles
European Championships
1982 Böblingen Men's doubles
1974 Vienna Men's singles
1978 Preston Men's singles
1978 Preston Men's doubles
1980 Groningen Men's doubles
1984 Preston Mixed doubles
1986 Uppsala Men's doubles
1976 Dublin Men's doubles
1986 Uppsala Mixed doubles
European Mixed Team Championships
1982 Böblingen Mixed team
1974 Vienna Mixed team
1976 Dublin Mixed team
1978 Preston Mixed team
1980 Groningen Mixed team
1984 Preston Mixed team
1986 Uppsala Mixed team

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.[1]

Career

Kihlström won the 1983 IBF World Championships in mixed doubles with Nora Perry.[2] 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.[3] 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 Ding 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 Norwegian International Bengt Fröman Flemming Delfs
Elo Hansen
15–6, 15–12 Winner
1976 Nordic Championships Bengt Fröman Svend Pri
Steen Skovgaard
15–10, 15–1 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 India Open Stefan Karlsson Park Joo-bong
Lee Eun-ku
15–10, 15–12 Winner
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
1982 India Open Jane Webster Billy Gilliland
Karen Chapman
14–18, 11–15 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
Martin Dew
Gillian Gilks
17–15, 15–12
Stefan Karlsson
Maria Bengtsson
15–10, 9–15, 10–15
1985 Nordic Championships Christine Magnusson Stefan Karlsson
Maria Bengtsson
9–15, 7–15 Runner-up

References

  1. ^ "Preview of World Championships: 10th-16th June 1985" (PDF). World Badminton. June 1985. p. 3. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  2. ^ Pat Davis, The Guinness Book of Badminton (Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlatives Ltd., 1983) 111.
  3. ^ Davis, 107, 108.