Erland Kops

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Erland Kops
Erland Kops.jpg
Erland Kops in 1968
Personal information
Country Denmark
Born(1937-01-14)14 January 1937
Died18 February 2017(2017-02-18) (aged 80)
EventMen's singles & Men's doubles

Erland Kops (14 January 1937 – 18 February 2017)[1] was a badminton player from Denmark who won numerous major international singles and doubles titles from the late 1950s to the early 1970s.

Early life[]

Kops was born in 1937. His uncles were the boxers Ebbe and Poul Kops who both competed at the Summer Olympics. Erland Kops began to play badminton in Københavns Badminton Klub in 1948. He worked for East Asiatic Company in Thailand from 1958 to 1960.[2]

Career[]

In 1958, Erland Kops brought an end to eight years of dominance of by Malayan players at the All England Badminton Championships by winning its Men's Singles event. Kops was also among the first Westerners to win major singles titles in the Far East.[3] He combined abundant speed, power, and stamina with impressive shot-making virtuosity. Despite some disappointing results in the late rounds of Thomas Cup (men's international team) competition, Kops was clearly the dominant tournament men's singles player and one of the dominant men's doubles players of his era.[4]

He is one of the most successful players ever in the All England Open Badminton Championships, with 11 titles between 1958 and 1967 - 7 of them in men's singles and 4 in men's doubles - breaking the Irish player Frank Devlin´s record of six titles.[5][6]

Erland Kops also won 5 times the Danish Championships in men's singles and 4 in men's doubles. In the Nordic Championships, Erland Kops obtained the title 5 times in the men's singles category, 3 times in men's doubles and 2 more times in mixed doubles.[6]

Kops played 44 national matches for Denmark from 1957-1972.[6]

With no surprise, Erland Kops was among the first group of badminton players inducted into the World Badminton Hall of Fame in 1997,[7] and was the first player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame of the (BEC) in 2013.[8][9]

As a recognition for his sporting achievements, Erland Kops has been honoured with a Knighthood from the Danish Queen, an Honorary Membership of The Danish Sports Federation, an Honorary Membership of Badminton Denmark, the from the Badminton World Federation, and being inducted to the Hall of Fame of Danish Sport, as well as being elected the second best Sportsman in Denmark of the 20th century.[8]

All England performance[]

In 1957, Erland Kops lost the final to the Malayan player Eddie B. Choong, but one year later he defeated Finn Kobberø in the final. In 1959, Tan Joe Hok - from Indonesia - won the championship, then, Erland Kops won it from 1960 to 1963. Finally, Erland Kops won it again two more times in 1965 and 1967. In men´s doubles, Erland Kops won the competition teaming up with Poul-Erik Nielsen in 1958 and together with Henning Borch from 1967 to 1969. Kops lost three finals in men's doubles - in 1961 and 1964 together with Poul-Erik Nielsen and against Jorgen Hammergaard / Finn Kobberø, and in 1965 with the Malaysian Oon Choong Jin and against Ng Boon Bee and Tan Yee Khan.

  • 1958: Champion - vs Finn Kobberø (Denmark)
  • 1960: Champion - vs Charoen Wattanasin (Thailand)
  • 1961: Champion - vs Finn Kobberø (Denmark)
  • 1962: Champion - vs Charoen Wattanasin (Thailand)
  • 1963: Champion - vs Channarong Ratanasaengsuang (Thailand)
  • 1965: Champion - vs Tan Aik Huang (Malaysia)
  • 1967: Champion - vs Tan Aik Huang (Malaysia)

Achievements[]

International tournaments[]

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1957 All England Malaysia Eddy Choong 9–15, 3–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1958 All England Denmark Finn Kobberø 15–10, 8–15, 15–8 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1958 Dutch Open Indonesia Ferry Sonneville 3–15, 8–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1960 All England Thailand Charoen Wattanasin 15–1, 11–15, 15–6 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1960 Swiss Open Malaysia 15–5, 15–4 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1961 Canada Open Scotland Robert McCoig 15–2, 15–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1961 All England Denmark Finn Kobberø 15–10, 15–6 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1961 French Open Indonesia Ferry Sonneville 15–12, 15–10 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1962 Swedish Open 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1962 All England Thailand Charoen Wattanasin 15–10, 15–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1962 German Open Indonesia Ferry Sonneville 15–10, 14–15, 15–3 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1963 U.S. Open Thailand Channarong Ratanaseangsuang 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1963 Canada Open Thailand Channarong Ratanaseangsuang 15–12, 15–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1963 All England Thailand Channarong Ratanaseangsuang 15–7, 15–7 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1963 German Open Denmark Henning Borch 15–2, 15–3 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1964 Swedish Open 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1964 German Open Denmark Knud Aage Nielsen 15–7, 15–13 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1965 All England Malaysia Tan Aik Huang 15–13, 15–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1965 U.S. Open Thailand Channarong Ratanaseangsuang 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1965 Mexico International Thailand Channarong Ratanaseangsuang 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1966 German Open Denmark Knud Aage Nielsen 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1966 London Championships Denmark Svend Pri 0–15, 7–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1966 French Open Indonesia Ang Tjin Siang 6–15, 15–6, 7–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1967 All England Malaysia Tan Aik Huang 15–12, 15–10 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1967 Singapore Open Malaysia Tan Aik Huang 11–15, 8–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1967 U.S. Open India Suresh Goel 15–2, 15–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1967 Dutch Open Denmark Tom Bacher 15–8, 15–9 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1967 Malaysia Open Indonesia 15–10, 15–3 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1967 Norwegian International 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1967 German Open Germany Wolfgang Bochow 17–14, 15–10 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1967 Canada Open Canada Wayne Macdonnell 15–11, 15–11 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1968 German Open Malaysia Tan Aik Huang 9–15, 18–17, 15–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1968 Denmark Open Malaysia Tan Aik Huang 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1969 Dutch Open Malaysia Oon Chong Hau 12–15, 4–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1970 Denmark Open Japan Ippei Kojima 3–15, 10–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1971 Norwegian International Denmark Svend Pri 10–15, 10–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1958 All England Denmark Poul-Erik Nielsen Denmark Finn Kobberø
Denmark Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen
15–7, 11–15, 15–8 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1958 Dutch Open Denmark Malaysia Oon Chong Jin
Denmark
15–11, 15–4 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1959 Malaysia Open Malaysia Eddy Choong Malaysia Teh Kew San
Malaysia Lim Say Hup
11–15, 9–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1960 Swiss Open Denmark Malaysia
Indonesia
15–2, 15–11 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1961 Canada Open Scotland Robert McCoig Denmark Finn Kobberø
Denmark Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen
8–15, 10–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1961 French Open Denmark Finn Kobberø Malaysia Oon Chong Teik
Malaysia
15–6, 15–10 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1962 German Open Denmark Poul-Erik Nielsen Denmark Finn Kobberø
Denmark Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen
7–15, 13–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1963 U.S. Open Scotland Robert McCoig United States Joe Alston
United States T. Wynn Rogers
1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1963 Canada Open Scotland Robert McCoig Thailand Sangob Rattanusorn
Thailand Channarong Ratanaseangsuang
15–13, 11–15, 15–13 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1963 German Open Denmark Poul-Erik Nielsen Denmark Henning Borch
Denmark
15–5, 15–3 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1964 German Open Denmark Poul-Erik Nielsen Denmark Finn Kobberø
Denmark Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen
15–3, 15–6 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1964 All England Denmark Poul-Erik Nielsen Denmark Finn Kobberø
Denmark Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen
6–15, 3–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1965 All England Malaysia Oon Chong Jin Malaysia Tan Yee Khan
Malaysia Ng Boon Bee
7–15, 5–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1965 Mexico International United States Don Paup


1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1966 London Championships Denmark Svend Pri England
England Roger Mills
9–15, 15–7, 15–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1967 Swedish Open Denmark Henning Borch Denmark Per Walsøe
Denmark Svend Pri
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1967 All England Denmark Henning Borch Denmark Per Walsøe
Denmark Svend Pri
15–8, 15–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1967 U.S. Open United States Joe Alston


1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1967 Dutch Open Denmark Tom Bacher South Africa Alan Parsons
South Africa
15–4, 15–10 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1967 Norwegian International Denmark Elo Hansen


1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1967 German Open Denmark Per Walsøe Germany Wolfgang Bochow
Germany
15–9, 9–15, 0–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1967 Canada Open Canada England Colin Beacom
England Roger Mills
6–15, 7–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1968 All England Denmark Henning Borch Malaysia Tan Yee Khan
Malaysia Ng Boon Bee
15–6, 15–4 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1969 Swedish Open Denmark Svend Pri England Tony Jordan
England Roger Mills
15–13, 8–15, 15–11 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1969 All England Denmark Henning Borch England David Eddy
England Roger Powell
13–15, 15–10, 15–9 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1969 Dutch Open Denmark Malaysia Oon Chong Hau
Malaysia
15–12, 5–15, 15–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1970 Denmark Open Denmark Henning Borch Denmark Per Walsøe
Denmark Svend Pri
1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1971 Dutch Open Denmark Svend Pri England Derek Talbot
England Elliot Stuart
15–11, 15–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1972 Swedish Open Denmark Svend Pri Denmark Per Walsøe
Denmark Poul Petersen
15–4, 9–15, 15–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1972 Dutch Open Denmark Svend Pri


1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1957 German Open Denmark Agnete Friis Malaysia Eddy Choong
England
15–6, 15–10 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1960 Swiss Open Denmark 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1961 French Open Denmark Denmark
Denmark
15–6, 15–10 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1963 Canada Open Canada Claire Lovett Canada
Scotland Robert McCoig
15–7, 7–15, 9–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1966 French Open Denmark Lene Køppen 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1969 U.S. Open Denmark Pernille Mølgaard Hansen United States Don Paup
United States
15–6, 13–15, 15–7 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1971 Norwegian International Denmark Lene Køppen Sweden
Sweden Eva Twedberg
15–3, 5–15, 10–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
Rank Event Date Venue
Danish National Championships
1 Singles 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967 Copenhagen
Men's doubles 1961, 1965, 1968, 1969
Nordic Championships
1 Singles 1964, 1965, 1966, 1966, 1967 Various locations
Men's doubles 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1971
Mixed doubles 1965, 1967
European Championships
2 Men's doubles 1970 Port Talbot, WAL
3 Men's doubles 1972 Karlskrona, SWE
Open Championships
1 Singles 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1967 All England Open
Men's doubles 1958, 1967, 1968, 1969
2 Singles 1957 All England Open
Men's doubles 1961, 1964, 1965
1 Singles 1961 French Open
Men's doubles 1961
Mixed doubles 1966
1 Singles 1961, 1963, 1967 Canadian Open
Men's doubles 1963
Mixed doubles 1963
1 Singles 1968 Denmark Open
Men's doubles 1970
1 Singles 1967, 1968 Dutch Open
Men's doubles 1958, 1967
1 Singles 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968 German Open
Men's doubles 1963, 1964
1 Singles 1967 Malaysia Open
1 Singles 1965 Mexican Open
Men's doubles 1965
1 Singles 1962 Mexico City International
Men's doubles 1962
1 Singles 1968 Norwegian International
Men's doubles 1968
1 Singles 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 Swedish Open
Men's doubles 1965, 1968
1 Singles 1960 Swiss Open
Men's doubles 1960
Mixed doubles 1960
1 Singles 1963, 1965, 1967 U.S. Open
Men's doubles 1963, 1967
Mixed doubles 1969
Other National Championships
1 Singles 1960 All-India Championships
Men's doubles 1960
1 Singles 1959 Thailand National Championships

References[]

  1. ^ "Danish badminton great Erland Kops dies at age 80". ESPN (via Associated Press). 18 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  2. ^ "Stjernerne fra i går: Erland Kops". badminton.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  3. ^ Herbert Scheele ed., The International Badminton Federation Handbook for 1971 (Canterbury, Kent, England: J. A. Jennings Ltd. 1971) 200, 303.
  4. ^ Pat Davis, The Guinness Book of Badminton (Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlatives Ltd., 1983) 123, 155,156.
  5. ^ Herbert Scheele ed., The International Badminton Federation Handbook for 1971 (Canterbury, Kent, England: J. A. Jennings Ltd. 1971) 163-165.
  6. ^ a b c "Badminton Denmark". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  7. ^ "bwfbadminton.org". bwfbadminton. Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Hall of Fame of the Badminton Europe Confederation". Badminton Europe Confederation. Badminton Europe Confederation. 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  9. ^ Sukumar, Dev (21 April 2013). "Sportkeeda Badminton". Sportkeeda. Sportkeeda. Retrieved 9 July 2016.

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