Ferry Sonneville

Ferry Sonneville
Ferry Sonneville (1962)
Personal information
Birth nameFerdinand Alexander Sonneville
Country Indonesia
Born(1931-01-03)3 January 1931
Batavia, Dutch East Indies
Died20 November 2003(2003-11-20) (aged 72)
Jakarta, Indonesia
HandednessRight
EventMen's singles
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  Indonesia
Thomas Cup
Gold medal – first place 1958 Singapore Men's team
Gold medal – first place 1961 Jakarta Men's team
Gold medal – first place 1964 Tokyo Men's team
Silver medal – second place 1967 Jakarta Men's team
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1962 Jakarta Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 1962 Jakarta Men's singles

Ferdinand Alexander "Ferry" Sonneville (3 January 1931 – 20 November 2003) was an Indonesian badminton player noted for his touch, consistency, tactical astuteness, and coolness under pressure. He won numerous international singles titles from the mid-1950s through the early 1960s and his clutch performances helped Indonesia to win its first three Thomas Cup (men's world team) titles consecutively in 1958, 1961, and 1964, setting the pattern for his country's continued formidable presence in world badminton. Sonneville's playing career ended on a sour note in the 1967 Thomas Cup final in Jakarta when, past his prime, he was roundly booed by his countrymen after dropping singles matches in Indonesia's controversial loss to Malaysia.[1]

After his high-level playing days ended Sonneville was elected to terms as both president of the International Badminton Federation (now World Badminton Federation) and president of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI).

  1. ^ Pat Davis, The Guinness Book of Badminton (Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlatives Ltd., 1983) 123.