Thomas Kihlström (born 11 December 1948) is a former badminton player from Sweden known for his agility, tactical astuteness, and coolness under pressure. Though an impressive singles player early in his career, his greatest successes came in doubles. Kihlström is a fine doubles player with a superb technique and lovely touch. Partnering Stefan Karlsson, they have been one of the consistent pairs and making them as one of the great doubles pairs in the world in their era.

Career

Kihlström won the 1983 IBF World Championships in mixed doubles with Nora Perry. He also won 16 medals at the European Championships, two of them in men's singles, two in mixed doubles, five in men's doubles and 7 in team competition. He shared two All-England men's doubles titles, one with Bengt Fröman in 1976 and the other with Stefan Karlsson in 1983. He also shared the All-England mixed doubles title with Nora Perry in 1983. From 1973 to 1988 Kihlström captured a total of twenty-four events at the Swedish National Championships. Kihlström competed during an era in which world class badminton became increasingly event-specialized. His skill as an "all-arounder" is demonstrated by the facts that he is the only player to have won medals in all three events, men's singles, men's doubles, and mixed doubles at the BWF World Championships, and is the only man to have won each of these three events at the Japan Open.

Achievements

World Championships

Men's singles Men's doubles Mixed doubles

World Cup

Mixed doubles

World Games

Men's doubles Mixed doubles

European Championships

Men's singles Men's doubles Mixed doubles

IBF World Grand Prix

The World Badminton Grand Prix was sanctioned by the International Badminton Federation from 1983 to 2006. Men's doubles Mixed doubles

International tournaments

Men's singles Men's doubles Mixed doubles