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]
| Ferry Sonneville | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ferry Sonneville (1962)
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | Ferdinand Alexander Sonneville | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  Indonesia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1931-01-03)3 January 1931 Batavia, Dutch East Indies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 20 November 2003(2003-11-20) (aged 72) Jakarta, Indonesia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handedness | Right | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event | Men's singles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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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).
Sonneville inherited his sports talents from his parents. His father was Dirk Jan Sonneville (1906-1944), a local tennis champion in the 1930s, and Leonij Elisabeth de Vogel (later Hubeek) (1908-1989), a badminton champion between 1935 and 1945, who taught him the game in the 1940s.[2] His father was a brigade major of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army in the war and was executed by the Japanese.[3] Sonneville married Yvonne Theresia de Wit in September 1954 and had 3 children, called Ferdinand Rudy Jr. (who died at the age of 21), Genia Theresia, and Cynthia Guedolyn. Sonneville also had two grandchildren. His religion was Catholic.[citation needed]
Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia |  Tan Yee Khan
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 Bronze
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[4] |
Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Selangor Open |  Ong Poh Lim
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15–11, 15–8 |  Winner
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| 1955 | Malaysia Open |  Jørn Skaarup
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15–5, 15–4 | Winner
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| 1956 | Dutch Open |  Hugh Findlay
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15–3, 15–6 | Winner
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| 1956 | German Open | Eddie Choong
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6–15, 0–15 |  Runner-up
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| 1957 | French Open | David Choong
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15–4, 15–3 | Winner
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| 1957 | German Open | Eddie Choong
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12–15, 12–15 | Runner-up
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| 1958 | Dutch Open | Erland Kops
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15–3, 15–8 | Winner
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| 1958 | German Open |  Bo Nilsson
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15–11, 15–4 | Winner
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| 1959 | All England | Tan Joe Hok
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8–15, 15–10, 3–15 | Runner-up
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| 1959 | Dutch Open | Knud Aage Nielsen
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13–18, 9–15 | Runner-up
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| 1959 | Belgian Championships | Kurt Nielsen
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13–15, 2–15 | Runner-up
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| 1960 | Dutch Open | Hugh Findlay
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15–11, 15–4 | Winner
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| 1960 | French Open | William Havers
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15–1, 15–1 | Winner
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| 1960 | German Open | Lee Kin Tat
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15–9, 18–13 | Winner
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| 1961 | Dutch Open |  Charoen Wattanasin
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15–8, 15–5 | Winner
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| 1961 | German Open | Lee Kin Tat
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15–5, 15–1 | Winner
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| 1961 | French Open | Erland Kops
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12–15, 10–15 | Runner-up
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| 1962 | Dutch Open | Charoen Wattanasin
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15–7, 15–3 | Winner
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| 1962 | German Open | Erland Kops
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10–15, 15–14, 3–15 | Runner-up
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| 1962 | Canadian Open |  Jim Poole
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17–16, 17–18, 15–9 | Winner
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| 1962 | US Open | Tan Joe Hok
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17–15, 18–17 | Winner
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Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | French Open | David Choong
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 Pierre Lenoir Ghislain Vasseur
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15–4, 15-9 | Winner
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| 1962 | Canadian Open |  Jim Carnwath
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Jim Poole Bobby Williams
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6–15, 8-15 | Runner-up
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| 1962 | US Open | Tan Joe Hok
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Joe Alston Wynn Rogers
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12–15, 13-15 | Runner-up
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| 1963 | All England Open | Tan Joe Hok
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Finn Kobberø J. H. Hansen
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6–15, 5–15 | Runner-up
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Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | French Open | Yvonne Theresia Sonneville
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Yeoh Kean Hua Rita A. Rabey
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Walkover | Winner
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| 1963 | German Open | Yvonne Theresia Sonneville
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Poul-Erik Nielsen Kirsten Thorndahl
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4–15, 14–17 | Runner-up
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