Sture Johnsson

Sture Johnsson (born 27 September 1945) is a retired badminton player from Sweden who won numerous Swedish national and international men's singles titles. His game was characterized by impressive stamina and mobility, and a powerful overhead smash.

Career Johnsson won men's singles at the first European Badminton Championships in 1968. He eventually won three singles titles at this biennial event (1968, 1970 and 1974 ), a total bested only by Peter Gade in the early 2000s. He won the World Invitational Championships in 1971 held in Glasgow and reached the semifinals of men's singles at the All-England Championships on four occasions and was one of only a very few players to beat Rudy Hartono in tournament play during Hartono's prime (semifinals of 1973 German Open). Johnsson was a member of six consecutive Swedish Thomas Cup teams between 1963 and 1979.

He also competed at the first ever IBF World Championships in Malmö, in 1977, and was defeated in quarterfinals by the eventual champion Flemming Delfs.

1972 Summer Olympics Johnsson competed in badminton at the 1972 Summer Olympics, as a demonstration sport competition. In men's singles, he lost in semifinals against Rudy Hartono, 15–2, 15–4. In mixed doubles he played with Eva Twedberg, and they were beaten in the first round by Roland Maywald and Brigitte Steden of West Germany.

Achievements European Championships Men's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1968 Ruhrlandhalle, Bochum, West Germany Wolfgang Bochow 17–14, 11–15, 15–5 Gold Gold 1970 Afan Lido, Port Talbot, Wales Elo Hansen 15–5, 15–6 Gold Gold 1974 Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria Thomas Kihlström 15–7, 15–8 Gold Gold 1978 Guild Hall, Preston, England Flemming Delfs 14–17, 9–15 Bronze Bronze

International tournaments (25 titles, 28 runners-up) Men's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 1965 Norwegian International Kurt Johnsson 15–11, 15–10 Winner 1967 Norwegian International Erland Kops 8–15, 6–15 Runner-up 1967 Nordic Championships Erland Kops 7–15, 12–15 Runner-up 1968 French Open Lee Kin Tat 15–12, 15–3 Winner 1968 Norwegian International Klaus Kaagaard 17–16, 15–5 Winner 1969 Swedish Open Svend Pri 18–15, 12–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1969 Canada Open Erland Kops 11–15, 1–15 Runner-up 1969 Norwegian International Klaus Kaagaard 13–18, 15–2, 12–15 Runner-up 1969 Nordic Championships Kurt Johnsson 15–6, 15–8 Winner 1970 Swedish Open Svend Pri 15–0, 3–15, 5–15 Runner-up 1971 German Open Jørgen Mortensen 18–15, 15–5 Winner 1971 Swedish Open Elo Hansen 18–17, 10–15, 5–15 Runner-up 1971 Nordic Championships Svend Pri 15–8, 11–15, 7–15 Runner-up 1972 German Open Tan Aik Huang 14–18, 15–5, 15–7 Winner 1972 Dutch Open Svend Pri 15–8, 15–2 Winner 1972 Swedish Open Svend Pri 12–15, 6–15 Runner-up 1972 U.S. Open Derek Talbot 15–3, 13–15, 15–8 Winner 1972 Canada Open Derek Talbot 7–15, 6–15 Runner-up 1972 Mexico International Roy Díaz González 15–8, 15–11 Winner 1972 Nordic Championships Thomas Kihlström 15–3, 17–14 Winner 1973 German Open Tjun Tjun 15–5, 12–15, 15–5 Winner 1973 Dutch Open Wolfgang Bochow 15–6, 8–15, 15–6 Winner 1973 Swedish Open Svend Pri 15–5, 6–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1973 U.S. Open Derek Talbot 15–4, 15–4 Winner 1973 Mexico International Roy Díaz González 15–4, 15–4 Winner 1973 Jamaica International Wolfgang Bochow 15–9, 15–12 Winner 1973 Nordic Championships Svend Pri 6–15, 8–15 Runner-up 1974 German Open Wolfgang Bochow 11–15, 18–15, 15–12 Winner 1974 Dutch Open Svend Pri 7–15, 7–15 Runner-up 1974 Denmark Open Svend Pri 11–15, 5–15 Runner-up 1974 Swedish Open Klaus Kaagaard 15–3, 15–11 Winner 1974 Jamaica International Roy Díaz González 15–2, 15–7 Winner 1975 Dutch Open Flemming Delfs 15–14, 0–15, 11–15 Runner-up 1975 Swedish Open Svend Pri 17–15, 8–15, 9–15 Runner-up 1975 Mexico International Thomas Kihlström 15–6, 11–15, 11–15 Runner-up 1975 Norwegian International Flemming Delfs 1–15, 5–15 Runner-up 1975 Nordic Championships Flemming Delfs 15–6, 12–15, 15–3 Winner 1976 Swedish Open Ray Stevens 15–12, 15–10 Winner 1976 Norwegian International Flemming Delfs 15–4, 1–15, 15–7 Winner 1977 German Open Derek Talbot 12–15, 18–15, 15–7 Winner 1977 Dutch Open Derek Talbot 15–8, 6–15, 13–18 Runner-up 1978 Norwegian International Steen Fladberg 15–10, 5–6 retired Runner-up

Men's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1967 Norwegian International Kurt Johnsson Erland Kops Elo Hansen 8–15, 11–15 Runner-up 1968 French Open Kurt Johnsson Horst Lösche Gerhard Kucki 15–6, 3–15, 2–15 Runner-up 1968 Norwegian International Kurt Johnsson Tom Bacher Klaus Kaagaard 9–15, 7–15 Runner-up 1969 Norwegian International Gert Perneklo Jørgen Mortensen Klaus Kaagaard 8–15, 4–15 Runner-up 1971 Norwegian International Bengt Fröman Kurt Johnsson Thomas Kihlström 12–15, 9–15 Runner-up 1975 Mexico International Thomas Kihlström Flemming Delfs Elo Hansen 15–11, 13–15, 5–15 Runner-up 1976 Mexico International Stefan Karlsson Ray Stevens Mike Tredgett 6–15, 5–15 Runner-up

Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1969 Norwegian International Eva Twedberg Kurt Johnsson Karin Lindquist 15–7, 15–7 Winner 1973 U.S. Open Eva Twedberg Thomas Carmichael Pam Brady 18–13, 15–12 Winner 1973 Jamaica International Eva Twedberg Mike Tredgett Margaret Beck 15–3, 18–15 Winner 1975 Mexico International Ofelia de Telge Thomas Kihlström Judianne Kelly 9–15, 8–15 Runner-up

Summary