Svend Pri


Svend Pri was a Danish badminton player who won numerous major titles from the mid-1960s through the mid-1970s.

Career

His play was marked by great power, tenacity, and tactical astuteness. Pri competed in badminton at the 1972 Summer Olympics, where badminton was played as a demonstration sport. In men's singles he was defeated in the final by Rudy Hartono 15–6, 15–1. In mixed doubles he played together with Ulla Strand and they were beaten in the final by Derek Talbot and Gillian Gilks 15–6, 18–16. An excellent three event player, the high points of his career were probably two dramatic singles victories over the iconic Rudy Hartono, one in the Challenge Round of Thomas Cup in 1973, the other in the final of the All-Englands in 1975. He won a silver medal in the 1977 IBF World Championships in men's singles, losing against Flemming Delfs in the final 15–5, 15–6.

Death

Experiencing personal difficulty in coping with family and financial problems in the wake of his badminton career, Pri killed himself in June 1983 at the age of 38.

Achievements

Olympic Games (demonstration)

Men's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1972Volleyballhalle, Munich, West Germany

World Championships

Men's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1977Malmö Isstadion, Malmö, Sweden

European Championships

Men's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1980Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands

International tournaments (50 titles, 28 runners-up)

Men's singles
YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
1963Norwegian Internationalsilver2