Richard Vaughan (badminton)
Richard Vaughan is a Welsh badminton player from Llanbradach, Caerphilly, Wales. Vaughan is currently the Chief Executive of Badminton Ireland and has an MBA from Leicester University; MA Sports Development from Bath University, having previously achieved a BSc in Economics and Politics.
Vaughan married Piret Hamer on 2 May 2008, in Tallinn, Estonia.
Career
Richard Vaughan won a bronze medal at the 2000 European Badminton Championships losing to Peter Gade in the semi final. He also won a bronze medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, beating Susilo, and Gupta on the way to the semi final where he lost to Lee. His highest world ranking was number 7. To date he has 107 caps representing Wales. He manages the Richard Vaughan Badminton Academy.Summer Olympics
Vaughan has competed twice in badminton at the Summer Olympics.2000 Summer Olympics
Vaughan played badminton at the 2000 Summer Olympics in men's singles, beating Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand in the first round and Rasmus Wengberg of Sweden in the 2nd round, before losing to World Champion Sun Jun of China, 13-15 13-15.2004 Summer Olympics
He also competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics despite contracting a virus similar to glandular fever which seriously impaired his preparation for the Athens Olympics. In men's singles, he defeated Marco Vasconcelos of Portugal in the first round. In the round of 16, Vaughan was himself defeated by Shon Seung-Mo of Korea, the eventual Silver Medalist.Best Grand Prix Results
- Last 16 All England 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007
- 1/4 Final Danish Grand Prix 2001
- 1/4 Final Swiss Grand Prix 2002
- 1/4 Final German Grand Prix 2002
- Semi Final Dutch Grand Prix 2000
- Semi Final US Grand Prix 2007
- Final Polish Grand Prix 2000
- Final Polish Grand Prix 2001
Achievements
European Championships
Men's singles| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2000 | Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland |  Peter Gade | 3–15, 4–15 | Bronze |
European Junior Championships
Boys' singles| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1997 | Nymburk, Czech Republic |  Dicky Palyama | 15–11, 11–15, 15–18 | Silver |
World Grand Prix
The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation since 1983.Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2000 | Polish Open |  Vladislav Druzchenko | 12–15, 12–15 | Runner-up |
| 1999 | Polish Open |  Rio Suryana | 9–15, 15–6, 12–15 | Runner-up |
BWF International Challenge/Series
Men's singles| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2006 | Canadian International |  Toby Honey | 19–21, 13–21 | Runner-up |
| 2006 | Waikato International |  John Moody | 21–11, 16–21, 20–22 | Runner-up |
| 2006 | Victorian International |  Nikhil Kanetkar | 22–20, 21–13 | Winner |
| 2006 | Estonian International |  Kęstutis Navickas | 20–22, 21–15, 11–21 | Runner-up |
| 2006 | Mauritius International |  Klaus Raffeiner | 21–11, 21–18 | Winner |
| 2006 | Kenya International |  Edwin Ekiring | 21–16, 21–17 | Winner |
| 2006 | South Africa International | Winner | ||
| 2003 | Peru International | Tjitte Weistra | 15–4, 15–8 | Winner |
| 2003 | Giraldilla International |  Sho Sasaki | 15–11, 6–15, 12–15 | Runner-up |
| 2003 | Guatemala International | Hidetaka Yamada | 11–15, 15–10, 15–8 | Winner |
| 2002 | South Africa International |  Stewart Carson | 7–1, 7–0, 7–0 | Winner |
| 2002 | Spanish International | Dicky Palyama | 4–7, 1–7, 7–5 | Runner-up |
| 2001 | Bulgarian International | Andrew South | 7–2, 5–7, 7–2 | Winner |
| 2000 | Cuba International |  Jyri Aalto | 15–8, 15–6 | Winner |
| 2000 | Canadian International | Jyri Aalto | 12–15, 15–7, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 2000 | Welsh International | Andrew South | 1–7, 7–2, 7–5 | Winner |
| 2000 | Dutch International | Vladislav Druzchenko | 15–10, 6–15, 11–15 | Runner-up |
| 2000 | Croatian International | Jyri Aalto | 15–10, 15–13 | Winner |
| 1999 | Welsh International |  Rasmus Wengberg | 17–16, 17–14 | Winner |
| 1999 | Le Volant d'Or de Toulouse | Pullela Gopichand | 13–15, 15–14, 6–15 | Runner-up |
| 1999 | Slovenian International | Kasper Ødum | 15–4, 11–15, 15–9 | Winner |
| 1999 | Chile International |  Bobby Milroy | 15–9, 15–5 | Winner |
| 1999 | Peru International | Ardy Wiranata | 15–7, 2–15, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 1998 | Argentina International |  Oscar Brandon | 15–1, 15–4 | Winner |
| 1998 | Brazil International |  Jim Ronny Andersen | 15–6, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1998 | Spanish International | Gerben Bruijstens | 15–5, 15–1 | Winner |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2009 | Cyprus International |  Sarah Thomas | Henry Tam Donna Haliday | 18–21, 14–21 | Runner-up |
| 2009 | Banuinvest International | Sarah Thomas | Valeriy Atrashchenkov Elena Prus | 19–21, 12–21 | Runner-up |