Petr Koukal (badminton)


Petr Koukal is a Czech professional badminton player.

Biography

Koukal started playing badminton in 1993, at a club owned by his father in Hořovice, and made his debut in the international tournament in 2000. In 2003 he was selected to join the national team, and at the same year, he won the mixed doubles title at the national championships partnered with Markéta Koudelková. Until 2016, he has collected 9 national titles, where 8 of them won in the men's singles event. Koukal first competed at the Summer Olympics in Beijing.
In 2010, Koukal was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent a successful therapy. He was awarded 2011 Fair Play Award, in Brno, Czech Republic. In July 2012, Czech Olympic Committee announced selection of Koukal for flag bearer of Czech team at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, citing him as an example of sport role in recovery from a grave illness and of return to competition at top level.
In 2016, Petr Koukal was awarded as the secondary recipient of the Hanno R. Ellenbogen Citizenship Award for his commitment and help to men with testicular cancer through his foundation. In May 2016, his spouse is Czech biathlete Gabriela Soukalová. He made his third appearance at the Summer Olympics through the Tripartite Commission Invitation.

Achievements

BWF Grand Prix

The BWF Grand Prix has two levels: Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It is a series of badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation since 2007.
Men's Singles
YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
2014U.S. Grand Prix Hsu Jen-hao19–21, 21–19, 8–21 Runner-up

BWF International Challenge/Series

Men's Singles
YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
2011Czech International Przemyslaw Wacha19–21, 16–21 Runner-up
2011Slovak Open Hubert Paczek21–11, 21–15 Winner
2009Czech International Dmytro Zavadsky21–17, 21–19 Winner
2007Iceland International Marco Vasconcelos21–17, 21–16 Winner
2007Turkey International Hans-Kristian Vittinghus21–23, 15–21 Runner-up
2007Le Volant d'Or de Toulouse Przemyslaw Wacha13–21, 17–21 Runner-up
2007Hatzor International Sho Sasaki15–21, 16–21 Runner-up
2006Le Volant d'Or de Toulouse Ville Lång18–21, 15–21 Runner-up
2004Lithuanian International Rafal Hawel15–3, 13–15, 4–15 Runner-up

Mixed Doubles
YearTournamentPartnerOpponentScoreResult
2004Lithuanian International Martina Benešová Stanislav Kohoutek
Akvilė Stapušaitytė		15–3, 15–13 Winner

Other