Darren Hall (badminton)

Darren James Hall (born 25 October 1965) is an English retired badminton player who is generally rated as one of the best men's singles players that England has produced and holds the record of 10 National singles titles.

Darren Hall
Personal information
Birth nameDarren James Hall
CountryEngland
Born (1965-10-25) 25 October 1965 (age 59)
Walthamstow, Greater London, England
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight73 kg (161 lb)
HandednessRight
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  England
World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Jakarta Men's singles
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 1990 Auckland Mixed team
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Auckland Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Kuala Lumpur Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Kuala Lumpur Men's team
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1988 Kristiansand Men's singles
Silver medal – second place 1990 Moscow Men's singles
European Mixed Team Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Moscow Mixed team
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Kristiansand Mixed team
European Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 1983 Helsinki Mixed team
Bronze medal – third place 1983 Helsinki Boys' doubles
BWF profile

Career

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Hall won a record ten English national singles titles from 1986 until 1999. During the 1993 championships he broke the existing record of five, set in 1981 by his cousin Ray Stevens.[1]

He is the only Englishman since the 1930s to win the prestigious Danish Open (1992) in the men's singles. He won the singles gold medal at the 1988 European Badminton Championships, defeating Morten Frost in the final.

Hall represented England in a demonstration of badminton at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.[2] He then competed in 1992 Summer Olympics in the men's singles. He lost in the second round to Zhao Jianhua, of China, 6–15, 9–15. In 1996, he played in the singles and doubles event. In the singles, he lost to Lee Gwang-jin of South Korea in the second round, 7–15, 11–15, and in the doubles event with Peter Knowles, they were defeated by Chinese pair Ge Cheng and Tao Xiaoqiang, 2–15, 3–15.[3]

Hall competed at the Commonwealth Games in 1990 and 1998, and has collected a gold and three bronze medals.[4]

Achievements

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World Cup

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Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1996 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia   Jeffer Rosobin 15–9, 14–17, 9–14   Bronze

Commonwealth Games

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Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1990 Auckland Badminton Hall, Auckland, New Zealand   Steve Baddeley Walkover   Bronze
1998 Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia   Yong Hock Kin 7–15, 1–15   Bronze

European Championships

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Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1988 Badmintonsenteret, Kristiansand, Norway   Morten Frost 8–15, 15–12, 15–9   Gold
1990 Minor Arena of the Central Lenin Stadium, Moscow, Soviet Union   Steve Baddeley 15–11, 3–15, 7–15   Silver

European Junior Championships

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Boys' doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1983 Helsinki, Finland   Stuart Spurling  
 
–, –   Bronze

IBF World Grand Prix

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The World Badminton Grand Prix was sanctioned by the International Badminton Federation from 1983 to 2006.

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1987 Dutch Open   Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen 4–15, 1–15   Runner-up
1987 German Open   Ib Frederiksen 17–16, 4–15, 15–6   Winner
1987 Hong Kong Open   Xiong Guobao 15–6, 4–15, 10–15   Runner-up
1987 Denmark Open   Torben Carlsen 7–15, 4–15   Runner-up
1991 Scottish Open   Jens Olsson 11–15, 15–9, 15–1   Winner
1992 Denmark Open   Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen 15–11, 18–13   Winner

IBF International

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Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1984 Welsh International   Morten Frost 2–15, 6–15   Runner-up
1984 Victor Cup   Lius Pongoh 6–15, 2–15   Runner-up
1985 Welsh International     Winner
1986 Welsh International     Winner
1988 Welsh International     Winner
1992 Wimbledon Open   Anders Nielsen 15–8, 15–12   Winner
1993 Welsh International   Peter Knowles 14–17, 15–6, 15–5   Winner
1993 Irish International   Tomas Johansson Walkover   Winner
1997 Irish International   Daniel Eriksson 15–12, 15–4   Winner
1998 Portugal International   Niels Christian Kaldau 16–18, 9–15   Runner-up
1998 Scottish International   Pontus Jäntti 13–15, 8–15   Runner-up
1998 Irish International   Mark Constable 15–7, 15–11   Winner
1999 Irish International   Peter Knowles 9–15, 4–15   Runner-up

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1982 Portugal International   Ray Stevens   Billy Gilliland
  Dan Travers
15–13, 15–8   Winner

References

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  1. ^ ""Hall takes title for sixth time." Times, 8 Feb. 1993, p. 24". Times Digital Archives.
  2. ^ "Badminton England Facts and Records" (PDF). Badminton England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  3. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Darren Hall". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  4. ^ "Darren Hall". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 10 June 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
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