Kenneth Jonassen (born 3 July 1974) is a Danish badminton coach and former player, who won Danish national and international titles during the first decade of the 21st century. The big, hard fighting Dane was often ranked among the top few singles players of that era, but was rather overshadowed by his fellow countryman Peter Gade. He has served the singles head coach of the Malaysia national badminton team since 4 January 2025.[2]

Kenneth Jonassen
Personal information
CountryDenmark
Born (1974-07-03) 3 July 1974 (age 50)
Herning, Denmark
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight81 kg (179 lb; 12.8 st)
HandednessRight
Men's singles
Highest ranking2 (14 April 2005[1])
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  Denmark
Sudirman Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Beijing Mixed team
Thomas Cup
Silver medal – second place 2004 Jakarta Men's team
Silver medal – second place 2006 Sendai & Tokyo Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Hong Kong Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Kuala Lumpur Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Guangzhou Men's team
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2008 Herning Men's singles
Silver medal – second place 1998 Sofia Men's singles
Silver medal – second place 2002 Malmö Men's singles
Silver medal – second place 2004 Geneva Men's singles
Silver medal – second place 2006 Den Bosch Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Glasgow Men's singles
European Mixed Team Championships
Gold medal – first place 1998 Den Bosch Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2000 Glasgow Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2002 Malmö Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2004 Geneva Mixed team
European Men's Team Championships
Gold medal – first place 2008 Almere Men's team
Gold medal – first place 2006 Thessalonica Men's team
BWF profile

He played badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics in men's singles, losing in the round of 32 to Chen Hong of China. Jonassen reached the quarterfinals of several Badminton World Championships but never quite made it to the medal rounds.

He won the gold medal at the 2008 European Badminton Championships, late in his career.[3] This, along with victories in the 2003 Korea Open and the 2004 Singapore Open were perhaps his most impressive achievements.

Major achievements

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European Championships

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Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1998 Winter Sports Palace, Sofia, Bulgaria   Peter Gade 8–15, 4–15   Silver
2000 Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena, Glasgow, Scotland   Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen 8–15, 15–5, 8–15   Bronze
2002 Malmö, Sweden   Peter Rasmussen 7–0, 5–7, 7–3, 5–7, 2–7   Silver
2004 Queue d’Arve Sport Center, Geneva, Switzerland   Peter Gade 9–15, 10–15   Silver
2006 Maaspoort Sports and Events, Den Bosch, Netherlands   Peter Gade 19–21, 18–21   Silver
2008 Messecenter, Herning, Denmark   Joachim Persson 21–13, 21–16   Gold

IBF World Grand Prix

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

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1996 French Open   Jesper Olsson 15–2, 5–15, 15–6   Winner
1997 Russian Open   Poul-Erik Høyer 2–15, 2–15   Runner-up
2001 U.S. Open   Lee Hyun-il 8–6, 2–7, 2–7, 5–7   Runner-up
2001 German Open   Niels Christian Kaldau 7–1, 7–8, 8–6, 4–7, 7–5   Winner
2002 Denmark Open   Chen Hong 9–15, 15–9, 6–15   Runner-up
2003 Korea Open   Park Tae-sang 15–12, 17–15   Winner
2004 Dutch Open   Anders Boesen 15–6, 15–6   Winner
2004 Singapore Open   Lee Chong Wei 3–15, 17–15, 15–4   Winner
2005 Korea Open   Peter Gade 15–7, 4–15, 5–15   Runner-up
2005 Thailand Open   Hafiz Hashim 13–15, 13–15   Runner-up
2006 Singapore Open   Peter Gade 10–21, 14–21   Runner-up

IBF International

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Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1995 Irish Open   Rikard Magnusson 11–15, 2–15   Runner-up
1996 Austrian Open   Robert Nock 15–10, 15–4   Winner
1996 Amor Tournament   Jeroen van Dijk 15–12, 5–15, 10–15   Runner-up
1996 Irish Open   Colin Haughton 8–15, 15–4, 15–8   Winner
2001 Austrian Open   Niels Christian Kaldau 15–10, 15–7   Winner
2002 Irish Open   Kasperi Salo 15–10, 15–10   Winner
2003 Irish Open   Kasper Fangel 15–4, 15–9   Winner

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1994 Polish Open   Jan Jorgensen   Ade Sutrisna
  Candra Wijaya
15–11, 8–15, 8–15   Runner-up
1998 South Africa International   Jonas Rasmussen   Johan Kleingeld
  Anton Kriel
15–3, 15–8   Winner

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1998 South Africa International   Beverley Meerholz   Jonas Rasmussen
  Meagen Burnett
5–15, 7–15   Runner-up

References

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  1. ^ IBF Historical Ranking - MENS SINGLES[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "(UPDATED) Kenneth Jonassen named national singles badminton coach". New Straits Times. 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  3. ^ "2008 European Championships winners". tournamentsoftware.com. Archived from the original on 2018-09-30. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
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