Brenda Beenhakker (born 18 February 1977) is a retired Dutch badminton player.[1] She is the former European junior champion in the girls' singles event in 1995. She won Dutch National Championships for 8 times; 5 times in singles (1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000) and 3 times in doubles (2005 – with Karina de Wit, 2006 & 2007 – with Judith Meulendijks).

Brenda Beenhakker
Personal information
Nickname(s)Big Brenda
CountryNetherlands
Born (1977-02-18) 18 February 1977 (age 47)
Arnhem, Gelderland, Netherlands
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
HandednessRight
Women's singles & doubles
Career record172 wins, 120 losses
Medal record
Women's badminton
Representing  Netherlands
Uber Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Guangzhou Women's team
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Malmö Women's singles
European Mixed Team Championships
Silver medal – second place 2004 Geneva Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2006 Den Bosch Mixed team
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Malmö Mixed team
European Women's Team Championships
Gold medal – first place 2006 Thessaloniki Women's team
European Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 1995 Nitra Girls' singles
BWF profile

Career

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Beenhakker surprised as a seventeen-year-old junior in 1995 by becoming women's singles Dutch National champion. When she was eleven, she became the Dutch junior champion for the first time. Hereafter several youth titles in her and higher age categories followed. A few months after her first championship with seniors in 1995, she was also crowned as European Junior Champion, becoming the first ever Dutch to win the girls' singles title. Beenhakker played badminton for BC Smashing (Wijchen) in the Dutch premier league. She won a bronze medal at the 2002 European Badminton Championships in Malmö, Sweden. She stopped playing international tournaments in April 2006, after a badminton career lasting for 19 years.

The Arnhem player started badminton when she was ten years old, after having been interested in playing tennis before. Beenhakker is married, has a daughter and has been working at a childcare center in Wijchen since 2008. As of 2009/10 season, she succeeded Frans Rademaker as trainer of BC Smashing. She had also given training at the Dutch clubs BECA Arnhem and BC Mariken in Nijmegen.

Achievements

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European Championships

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Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2002 Baltiska hallen, Malmö, Sweden   Mia Audina 1–7, 6–8, 1–7   Bronze

European Junior Championships

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Girls' singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1995 Športová hala Olympia, Nitra, Slovakia   Mette Justesen 11–0, 4–11, 12–10   Gold

IBF International

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Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1995 Welsh International   Elena Rybkina 4–11, 6–11   Runner-up
1997 Austrian International   Judith Meulendijks 1–11, 11–8, 9–12   Runner-up
1997 Welsh International   Judith Meulendijks 11–4, 11–6   Winner
1999 Australian International   Sandra Dimbour 3–11, 5–11   Runner-up
2001 French International   Tine Rasmussen 7–2, 8–6, 5–7, 7–1   Winner
2001 Welsh International   Sara Persson 7–5, 7–5, 7–0   Winner
2002 Dutch International   Karina de Wit 7–5, 7–0, 7–4   Winner
2003 Dutch International   Kamila Augustyn 5–11, 4–11   Runner-up
2005 USA SCBA International   Miyo Akao 7–11, 11–7, 11–2   Winner

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2005 Finnish International   Paulien van Dooremalen   Sandra Marinello
  Kathrin Piotrowski
11–15, 1–15   Runner-up

References

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  1. ^ "Players: Brenda Beenhakker". bwfbadminton.com. Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
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