Thomas Cup, World Cup for Badminton
For the eighth time, the Indonesian team once again bit the finger failed to repatriate Thomas Cup into the lap of motherland. On the 30th edition in Bangkok, Thailand May 20-27, 2018, Anthony Ginting et al. only able to tackle the semi-finals - worse than the finalists' achievements in the 2016 edition.
"This result is not as expected. Because at least we want to keep the results last year (finalists), "said Susi Susanti, team manager, reported by badmintonindonesia.org, May 26, 2018.
The warrior racket we last felt the Thomas Cup in 2002. Since the first champion in 1958, Indonesia is still the country's largest collection of Thomas Cup with 13 trophies. The record began to be followed by China who collected 10 titles.
Thomas Cup is the most prestigious men's badminton tournament. "Thomas Cup was initiated by Sir George Alan Thomas, a very successful British midfielder in the early 1900s, where he inspired (tournament) the Davis Cup of tennis and the football World Cup that has been around since 1930," Anil Taneja told the World of Sports Indoor.
Sir Thomas, President of the International Badminton Federation (IBF) on March 11, 1939, presented the idea to the IBF committee during the All England tournament at London's Royal Horticultural Hall. In the May 1984 edition of Allsports, Sir Thomas proposed the idea because it was time for a more global international tournament from the All England.
After discussing Thomas's idea, the IBF Member General Meeting approved on 5 July 1939. The tournament which was named the beginning of The International Badminton Championship Challenge was the plan of carpet degree in the 1941-1942 season. But World War II foiled it.
New in 1948-1949 Thomas Cup can be held, in Preston, England. Format, the participants must first pass the inter-zone qualification: American, European and Pacific Zones. Three zonal champions are entitled to take part in the finals on 22-26 February 1949.
The three participants representing each zone of the United States representing the Americas, Denmark represent the European zone, and Malaya (now Malaysia) represents the Pacific Zone. The ostracized Asian deputy, Malaya, managed to snatch the first Thomas Cup after removing the Americans in the first round and Denmark in the final.
"In those days, the big team was America. English and Danish are also great. They had never heard of Malaya. They do not even know where Malaya is, "recalls Teoh Seng Khoon, a member of the 1949 Malayan team, as reported by The Star, November 8, 2008.
Trophies and Competitions in the Modern Era
Thomas Cup Trophy, which became the dream of badminton badminton to be kissed and taken home, made by the company Atkin Bros. London. According to bwfthomasubercups.com website, the Thomas Cup trophy with 28 inches tall and 16 inches wide designed a large mug with a male victory figure on top of the cup cap. The trophy is made of silver-gold worth 40 thousand US dollars.
As the name of the tournament, this trophy was originally also named The International Badminton Championship Challenge Cup and has been published since July 4, 1940. In the future, the name of the trophy was replaced to Thomas Cup to immortalize the name penggagasnya.
Over time, the number of participants increased. The zone of qualification plus the inter-zones of Australia and the Pacific Zone changed the Asian Zone.
Indonesia first appeared in 1958. In the moment of debut that Indonesia directly came out as champion. In the final, played at Singapore Badminton Hall, 14-15 June 1958, Indonesia crushed Malaya 6-3.
At that time, writes Leo Suryadinata in Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent, the Indonesian team contains multi-ethnic players with the backbone of the Chinese victory. They are Olich Solihin, Eddy Yusuf, Lie Po Djian, Tan King Gwan, Tjan Kim Bie, Ferry Sonneville, and Tan Joe Hok.
China as Indonesia's toughest rival in the new badminton tasting Thomas Cup in 1982. As Indonesia, China also won the champion trophy in the moment of his debut. China frustrated Indonesia 5-4 in the final held on May 20-21, 1982 in London.
Since 1984, the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup have been "mated" so they are always held together. That year also introduced a new format, Thomas and Uber Cup so biennial tournaments.