Paul Whetnall

Paul E Whetnall (19 February 1947 – 1 May 2014)^[1] was an English badminton player who won national and international titles between 1968 and 1980.

Paul Whetnall
Personal information
Country	England
Born	19 February 1947 Birmingham, West Midlands, England
Died	1 May 2014(2014-05-01) (aged 67) Dartford, Kent, England
Years active	1969-1980
Retired	1980
Event	Men's singles & Mixed doubles
Medal record Men's badminton Representing  England Commonwealth Games 1970 Edinburgh Men's singles 1974 Christchurch Mixed doubles European Championships 1970 Port Talbot Men's singles 1976 Dublin Men's singles European Mixed Team Championships 1976 Dublin Mixed team

Career

Whetnall was noted for his shot-making accuracy and tactical astuteness. In his most successful season, 1975–1976, Whetnall won the open men's singles crowns of South Africa, Scotland, Germany, and the USA,^[2] as well as his third and last English National singles title.^[3] In 1970 Whetnall was a men's singles runner-up in the quadrennial British Commonwealth Games, losing a close final to Canada's Jamie Paulson.^[4] Shortly after this, his tournament career suffered a 2+1⁄2-year hiatus due to a badminton pro-tour venture which folded in 1973. Whetnall represented England in Thomas Cup (men's international team) competition in the 1969–1970 and 1975–1976 campaigns.

He represented England and won a silver medal in the singles, at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.^[5][6] Four years later he won a second silver medal (in the mixed doubles) at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games, Christchurch, New Zealand.^[7]

Personal life

In 1968 he married Susan Pound Whetnall who was an outstanding player of the same era. After he retired in 1980 he mainly coached in Kent for many years and also in charge of coaching for England national badminton team in several high profile tournaments such as Commonwealth Games and World Badminton Championships.^[1] Paul is also an author where he co-wrote a book called Badminton (Competitive Sports Spirit) with Trevor Leahy.^[8]

On 1st of May 2024, Paul died at 67. He left behind his wife Susan and a son and a daughter, Andrew and Claire.^[1]

Achievements

Commonwealth Games

Men's singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1970	Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland	Jamie Paulson	15–10, 13–15, 10–15	Silver

Mixed doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1974	Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand	Nora Gardner	Derek Talbot Gillian Gilks	walkover	Silver

European Championships

Men's singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1970	Afan Lido, Port Talbot, Wales	Elo Hansen	9–15, 2–15	Bronze
1976	Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin, Ireland	Flemming Delfs	9–15, 7–15	Bronze

International tournaments (16 titles, 5 runners-up)

Men's singles

Year	Tournament	Opponent	Score	Result
1970	Scottish Open	Derek Talbot	13–15, 15–9, 15–10	Winner
1974	Scottish Open	David Eddy	15–1, 15–6	Winner
1974	Mexico International	Roy Díaz González	15–7, 5–15, 15–9	Winner
1975	South African Championships	Ray Stevens	15–12, 15–11	Winner
1975	German Open	Flemming Delfs	10–15, 12–15	Runner-up
1976	Scottish Open	Ray Stevens	15–5, 5–15, 15–11	Winner
1976	German Open	Flemming Delfs	17–14, 15–10	Winner
1976	U.S. Open	Thomas Kihlström	17–14, 15–10	Winner
1980	Scottish Open	Steve Baddeley	15–6, 15–1	Winner

Men's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1969	Scottish Open	Ray Sharp	Robert McCoig Mac Henderson	18–16, 13–15, 18–14	Winner
1974	Mexico International	Victor Jaramillo	Roy Díaz González Jorge Palazuelos	11–15, 11–15	Runner-up
1975	South African Championships	Ray Stevens	Kenneth Parsons William Kerr	15–9, 15–7	Winner

Mixed doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1966	Dutch Open	Julie Rickard	David Horton Jenny Horton	3–15, 4–15	Runner-up
1968	Dutch Open	Angela Bairstow	David Eddy Margaret Boxall	15–13, 15–11	Winner
1970	Belgian International	Margaret Boxall	Alan Parsons Lore Hawig	15–4, 15–5	Winner
1970	Scottish Open	Margaret Boxall	Roger Mills Gillian Gilks	2–15, 15–11, 8–15	Runner-up
1970	Canadian Open	Margaret Boxall	Ippei Kojima Susan Whetnall	15–12, 5–15, 13–15	Runner-up
1970	U.S. Open	Margaret Boxall	Ippei Kojima Machiko Aizawa	15–8, 15–2	Winner
1974	Scottish Open	Nora Perry	Mike Tredgett Margaret Boxall	15–4, 18–14	Winner
1974	Mexico International	Carlene Starkey	Yves Paré Maryanne Breckell	11–15, 15–9, 15–4	Winner
1975	South African Championships	Susan Whetnall	Ray Stevens Barbara Sutton	6–15, 15–10, 15–3	Winner