Tonny Holst-Christensen

Tonny Holst-Christensen
Personal information
Birth nameTonny Petersen
CountryDenmark
Born(1936-01-25)25 January 1936
Died11 August 2024(2024-08-11) (aged 88)
Medal record
Women's badminton
Representing  Denmark
Uber Cup
Silver medal – second place 1960 Philadelphia Women's team

Tonny Holst-Christensen (nee Petersen) was a Danish badminton player. In 1962, the Badminton Association of Denmark decided not to enter Tonny in the All England Championships and she had to pay for the trip to England out of her own pocket. She then teamed up with Judy Devlin and remarkably won the title.[1] She also won the Danish National Championship in 1956 and 1960 and was a member of the 1960 Uber Cup team. [2] After retiring, She stayed with badminton mainly as coaches for 30 years. She died on 11th of August 2024, at the age of 88.[3]

Personal life

Tonny was married to Bjorn, who is also badminton player and had 4 children, including a fellow All England Open winner like her in 1993, Jon Holst-Christensen.[4]

Achievements

International tournaments (11 titles, 5 runners-up)

Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1957 Scottish Open Denmark Tonny Ahm 11–7, 2–11, 9–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1959 Belgian International Denmark Inger Kjærgaard 8–11, 11–2, 11–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1960 Scottish Open Denmark Inge Hasselsteen 6–11, 5–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1961 Dutch Open Denmark Hanne Jensen 11–3, 0–11, 3–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1961 Swedish Open Denmark Hanne Andersen 11–0, 11–8 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1961 Swiss Open Denmark Inge Hasselsteen 11–0, 11–2 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1962 German Open United States Judy Hashman 2–11, 3–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1957 Scottish Open Denmark Tonny Ahm Republic of Ireland Yvonne Kelly
Republic of Ireland Mary O'Sullivan
15–10, 4–15, 15–7 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1959 Belgian International Denmark Inger Kjærgaard England Barbara Carpenter
England Heather Ward
8–15, 9–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1960 Scottish Open Denmark Inge Hasselsteen Scotland Maggie Macintosh
Scotland Wilma Tyre
15–7, 15–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1961 Swedish Open Denmark Hanne Andersen Denmark Else Madsen
Denmark Grethe Ferløv
15–11, 15–7 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1962 German Open United States Judy Hashman Denmark Karin Jørgensen
Denmark Ulla Rasmussen
15–12, 15–9 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1962 All England Open United States Judy Hashman Denmark Karin Jørgensen
Denmark Ulla Rasmussen
15–5, 15–3 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1961 Dutch Open Denmark Bjørn Holst-Christensen Denmark Ole Mertz
Denmark Hanne Jensen
15–4, 15–4 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1961 Swedish Open Denmark Bjørn Holst-Christensen Denmark Leif Jensen
Denmark Hanne Andersen
15–11, 15–7 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1961 Swiss Open Denmark Bjørn Holst-Christensen Denmark Ole Mertz
Denmark Inge Hasselsteen
15–4, 15–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner

References

  1. ^ Davis, Pat (1983). Guinness Book of Badminton. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. ISBN 0-85112-271-X.
  2. ^ "Tonny Holst-Christensen". Badminton Denmark.
  3. ^ Elkjær, Ronni Burkal (16 August 2024). "Mindeord: Tonny Holst-Christensen er gået bort (Obituary: Tonny Holst-Christensen has passed away)". badminton.dk (in Danish). Badminton Danmark. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  4. ^ Thrane, John (5 December 2024). "Mindeord: Tonny Holst-Christensen er gået bort - Badmintonmuseet" [Obituary: Tonny Holst-Christensen has passed away]. badmintonmuseet.dk (in Danish). Badminton Museet. Retrieved 7 August 2025.