Morten Frost

Summary

Morten Frost or Morten Frost Hansen (born 4 April 1958) is a former badminton player and later coach, who represented Denmark. As a player, he spent twelve years in the top three of the world rankings.

Morten Frost
Personal information
Nickname(s)Mr Badminton
Birth nameMorten Frost Hansen
CountryDenmark
Born (1958-04-04) 4 April 1958 (age 66)
Nykøbing Sjælland, Odsherred, Denmark.[1]
HandednessRight
Men's singles
Highest ranking1
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  Denmark
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1985 Calgary Men's singles
Silver medal – second place 1987 Beijing Men's singles
World Games
Silver medal – second place 1981 Santa Clara Men's singles
World Cup
Silver medal – second place 1985 Jakarta Men's singles
Silver medal – second place 1986 Jakarta Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1983 Kuala Lumpur Men's doubles
Sudirman Cup
Bronze medal – third place 1989 Jakarta Mixed team
Thomas Cup
Silver medal – second place 1979 Jakarta Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Tokyo Men's team
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1984 Preston Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 1986 Uppsala Men's singles
Silver medal – second place 1980 Groningen Men's singles
Silver medal – second place 1984 Preston Men's doubles
Silver medal – second place 1988 Kristiansand Men's singles
European Mixed Team Championships
Gold medal – first place 1980 Groningen Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 1986 Uppsala Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 1988 Kristiansand Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 1984 Preston Mixed team
European Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 1975 Copenhagen Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 1975 Copenhagen Boys' singles

Badminton career edit

During his career, Frost won almost every available top level championship, except the World Badminton Championships where he scored a silver medal twice (1985 and 1987). When he lost his second World Championship in the finals, the headlines rang out "The World's greatest badminton player may never be World Champion." While this may be the enduring footnote to his career, Frost dominated at the much coveted All England Open Badminton Championships. He won that tournament in 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1987. He also was European champion in 1984 and 1986. He won the Nordic championship each year from 1978 through 1984 and again in 1988.

Frost is also distinguished by winning all of the invitational Grand Prix tournaments at least once, including his home country's Denmark Open, of which he was champion 1980-1986 and 1989. Morten Frost represented Denmark on the national team from 1976 to 1991, longer than anyone else.

Noted for his exceptionally smooth and fluid footwork, Frost's playing style was something of a cross between the traditional singles game featuring numerous clears (lobs) and drops, with smashes often reserved for weak returns, and the modern singles game featuring more smashing from the outset of a rally to create openings.

Morten Frost was inducted into the BWF Badminton Hall of Fame in 1998.

Coaching career edit

After his playing years were over, he went on to successfully coach the Danish national team. During his tenure as coach, the Danish national squad achieved over 20 major international wins, including an Olympic gold medal in 1996, six gold medals and three silver medals at the European Championships in 1996, the men's singles titles at the 1995 and 1996 All England Championships, and a gold, two silver and four bronze medals at the World Championships in 1995. He later coached the national teams of Malaysia and South Africa.[2] Frost also worked as a commentator on the BBC's TV coverage of the badminton tournament at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.[3]

In 2015 Frost accepted a contract to be technical director of the Malaysian national team until the end of 2020.[4] Early 2017, Frost had a fallout with Malaysian former world number 1 player Lee Chong Wei regarding what Lee said was an unfair treatment towards him after his injury.[5] In September 2017, Frost resigned from his position in Malaysia, citing personal reasons.[6]

In February 2019, Frost signed a one-year contract to coach India's junior players at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy.[7]

Achievements edit

World Championships edit

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1985 Olympic Saddledome, Calgary, Canada   Han Jian 18–14, 10–15, 8–15   Silver
1987 Capital Indoor Stadium, Beijing, China   Yang Yang 2–15, 15–13, 12–15   Silver

World Cup edit

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1985 Senayan Sports Complex, Jakarta, Indonesia   Icuk Sugiarto 11–15, 15–8, 4–15   Silver
1986 Senayan Sports Complex, Jakarta, Indonesia   Icuk Sugiarto 15–5, 6–15, 11–15   Silver

Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1983 Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia   Jens Peter Nierhoff   Christian Hadinata
  Bobby Ertanto
11–15, 15–4, 13–15   Bronze

World Games edit

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1981 San Jose Civic Auditorium, California, United States   Chen Changjie 15–9, 7–15, 12–15   Silver

European Championships edit

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1980 Groningen, Netherlands   Flemming Delfs 4–15, 15–1, 14–17   Silver
1984 Preston Guild Hall, Preston, England   Jens Peter Nierhoff 15–8, 15–2   Gold
1986 Uppsala, Sweden   Ib Frederiksen 15–8, 15–2   Gold
1988 Kristiansand, Norway   Darren Hall 15–8, 12–15, 9–15   Silver

International tournaments finals (30 titles) edit

Singles edit

Wins edit
Date Tournament Opponent in final Score
1977 Norwegian International
1977 USSR International
1978 Nordic Championships
1979 Canadian Open
1979 Nordic Championships
1980 Denmark Open
1980 Canadian Open
1980 Nordic Championships
1981 Denmark Open
1981 Nordic Championships
1982 All England Open   Luan Jin 11-15 15-2 15-7
1982 Denmark Open
1982 German Open
1982 Scottish Open
1982 Nordic Championships
1983 Denmark Open
1983 Dutch Open
1983 Scottish Open
1983 Nordic Championships
1984 Nordic Championships
1985 Welsh International
1986 Belgian International
1989 Nordic Championships
1990 Finnish International

Men's doubles edit

Wins edit
Date Tournament Event Partner Opponents in final Score
1977 USSR International MD   Steen Skovgaard
1980 Nordic Championships MD   Steen Fladberg
1981 Nordic Championships MD   Steen Fladberg
1982 Nordic Championships MD   Steen Fladberg
1983 Scottish Open XD   Nettie Nielsen
1986 Nordic Championships MD   Steen Fladberg

IBF World Grand Prix (32 titles, 12 runners-up) edit

The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006.

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1983 Swedish Open   Misbun Sidek 15–9, 10–15, 13–15   Runner-up
1983 All England Open   Luan Jin 2–15, 15–12, 4–15   Runner-up
1983 Scandinavian Open   Prakash Padukone 18–17, 15–2   Winner
1983 World Grand Prix Finals   Luan Jin 2–15, 6–15   Runner-up
1984 Chinese Taipei Open   Hastomo Arbi 15–11, 15–7   Winner
1984 Japan Open   Liem Swie King 15–1, 18–15   Winner
1984 Scottish Open   Kevin Jolly 15–11, 15–2   Winner
1984 Denmark Open   Jens Peter Nierhoff 15–1, 15–2   Winner
1984 All England Open   Liem Swie King 9–15, 15–10, 15–10   Winner
1984 Malaysia Open   Icuk Sugiarto 9–15, 4–15   Runner-up
1984 Scandinavian Open   Han Jian 15–10, 15–9   Winner
1984 World Grand Prix Finals   Liem Swie King 15–5, 15–4   Winner
1985 Hong Kong Open   Yang Yang 10–15, 11–15   Runner-up
1985 Denmark Open   Sung Han-kuk 15–4, 15–5   Winner
1985 All England Open   Zhao Jianhua 15–6, 10–15, 15–18   Runner-up
1985 English Masters   Steve Baddeley 15–12, 11–15, 15–11   Winner
1985 Malaysia Masters   Misbun Sidek 15–4, 15–7   Winner
1985 Scandinavian Open   Lius Pongoh 15–5, 15–8   Winner
1986 German Open   Michael Kjeldsen 15–4, 15–3   Winner
1986 Scandinavian Open   Torben Carlsen 15–5, 15–5   Winner
1986 All England Open   Misbun Sidek 15–2, 15–8   Winner
1986 Denmark Open   Michael Kjeldsen 15–9, 15–10   Winner
1986 English Masters   Sze Yu 15–8, 15–5   Winner
1986 World Grand Prix Finals   Yang Yang 13–18, 8–15   Runner-up
1987 Poona Open   Jens Peter Nierhoff 15–11, 15–11   Winner
1987 All England Open   Icuk Sugiarto 15–10, 15–0   Winner
1987 English Masters   Steve Baddeley 18–13, 15–18, 15–12   Winner
1988 Poona Open   Ib Frederiksen 15–10, 15–9   Winner
1988 German Open   Xiong Guobao 15–4, 15–6   Winner
1988 All England Open   Ib Frederiksen 15–8, 7–15, 10–15   Runner-up
1988 French Open   Icuk Sugiarto 10–15, 15–6, 2–15   Runner-up
1988 English Masters   Ardy Wiranata 15–8, 15–8   Winner
1988 Scottish Open   Nick Yates 15–7, 15–5   Winner
1989 Chinese Taipei Open   Eddy Kurniawan 15–12, 15–3   Winner
1989 Swedish Open   Allan Budi Kusuma 15–4, 15–4   Winner
1989 All England Open   Yang Yang 6–15, 7–15   Runner-up
1989 German Open   Steve Baddeley 15–6, 15–4   Winner
1989 Denmark Open   Zhao Jianhua 15–12, 15–13   Winner
1989 Scottish Open   Jens Peter Nierhoff 15–2, 15–5   Winner
1990 Finnish Open   Hermawan Susanto 15–13, 4–15, 15–9   Winner
1990 Japan Open   Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen 15–9, 15–4   Winner
1990 Denmark Open   Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen 15–4, 10–15, 15–17   Runner-up

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1984 Scottish Open   Jesper Helledie   Nigel Tier
  Duncan Bridge
15–11, 15–11   Winner
1984 Denmark Open   Jens Peter Nierhoff   Li Yongbo
  Tian Bingyi
7–15, 2–15   Runner-up

National championships finals edit

Singles edit

Wins edit
Year Tournament Opponent in final Score
1978 Danish National Championships
1979 Danish National Championships
1980 Danish National Championships
1982 Danish National Championships
1983 Danish National Championships
1984 Danish National Championships
1987 Danish National Championships
1990 Danish National Championships
1991 Danish National Championships

Quotes edit

  • "Jeg hader at tabe mere end de fleste. Jeg har en vilje til at vinde HVER gang!" - Morten Frost
  • "I hate to lose more than most. I have the will to win EVERY time!" - Morten Frost (translation of above)
  • "He used to give international players in England a 14-0 start. And if they won, the bet was they would take the money. And most of the players would take the bet, but they made very little money. After that they found they couldn't win, so they never took the bet. But that's how you train not to make errors." - Tom John on Morten Frost

References edit

Cited
  1. ^ "Players: Morten-Forst Hansen". Smash - Badminton site. Archived from the original on April 28, 2002. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
  2. ^ "Danish legend Frost to coach South Africa". Shuttler. 2001-03-30.
  3. ^ "Tune in to the Beeb for badminton at Glasgow 2014". Badminton Scotland. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  4. ^ "High hopes for Morten Frost to revive Malaysia's badminton glory". The Malaysian Insider. 27 February 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016.
  5. ^ "World No 1 Lee Chong Wei threatens to quit Badminton Association of Malaysia". TODAYonline. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
  6. ^ "Frost maintains that 'personal reasons' were why he quit". New Straits Times. September 19, 2017.
  7. ^ Nahir, Akhil (11 February 2019). "Badminton Legend Morten Frost to Coach India's Junior Players". News18. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
General
  • En eftermiddag med Morten Frost

Further reading edit

  • "The making of Morten Frost (Anecdotes about Frost)". BadmintonMania.

External links edit