Who was the first men's singles champion at the BWF World Championships?

Flemming Delfs was the first men’s singles champion at the BWF World Championships.

Delfs of Denmark won the inaugural World Championships men’s singles title in 1977. The event was organized by the International Badminton Federation, now known as the Badminton World Federation, and was staged in Malmö, Sweden.

In the final, Delfs defeated Indonesia’s Liem Swie King. His victory made him the first officially recognized world champion in the discipline, although earlier tournaments such as the All England had long been regarded as prestigious international championships.

The World Championships are separate from the Olympic tournament and from team events such as the Thomas Cup. Denmark’s success in 1977 reflected the country’s established European badminton tradition. Later Danish champions included Morten Frost and Peter Rasmussen, while Indonesia and China became especially dominant forces in men’s singles.