The schedule for the 2020 Thomas and Uber Cup will be held in Aarhus, Denmark, on 9-17 October 2021. In addition, the Thomas and Uber Cups were held simultaneously for the first time in 1984. Since then, only two countries have been able to marry the two symbols of the supremacy of the world team badminton championship.
China
China became the first country to marry the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup. The greatness of the Bamboo Curtain Country took place in 1986 in Jakarta, Indonesia. At that time, Indonesia as the host of the Thomas and Uber Cups managed to advance to the final. However, in the top two matches, the Red and White team lost to China twice.
In the Thomas Cup final, Indonesia lost 2-3 to China. Meanwhile in the Uber Cup, Indonesia also lost 2-3 to the same opponent. China also managed to marry the Thomas Cup with the Uber Cup for the first time. Kompas Daily in its report on May 5, 1986 called the defeat the blackest tragedy in the journey of Indonesian badminton. This is because the Red and White team lost at home, Istora Senayan, which had been feared by the opponent.
China itself has re-married the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup in the next two editions, namely 1988 and 1990. Until now, China has recorded seven marriages of the Thomas and Uber Cups, namely in 1986, 1988, 1990, 2004, 2006, and most recently 2012.
Indonesia
Indonesia is the second country to successfully unify the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup. The Red and White Team did this twice, in 1994 and 1996. In 1994, exactly eight years after the “tragedy” of Istora, Indonesia managed to completely redeem it in the same place.
When appearing in the 1994 Thomas Cup, Indonesia was strengthened by Joko Supriyanto, Hariyanto Arbi, Ardy B. Wiranata, Hermawan Susanto, Ricky Subagdja, Rexy Mainaky, Bambang Suprianto, Gunawan, and Deny Kantono. Meanwhile in the Uber Cup team, Merah Putih relied on Susy Susanti, Meiluawati, Eliza Nathanael, Zelin Resiana, Finarsih, Lili Tampi, and also the young player Mia Audina.
Indonesia advanced to the Uber Cup final after topping Group B and beating South Korea in the semifinals. In the final, Susy Susanti et al met China. This time, the Red and White team managed to avenge the defeat eight years ago at Istora Senayan. Indonesia lifted the Uber Cup trophy after winning 3-2 in the final match.
The triumph of Red and White was then complemented by the success of Hariyanto Arbi et al. in defeating their arch-enemy, Malaysia, in the Thomas Cup final. In the hot 1994 Thomas Cup final, Indonesia managed to beat Malaysia with a score of 3-0.
Two years later in Hong Kong, Indonesia again married the Thomas and Uber Cups. In the last edition, 2018, Japan actually had the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of China and Indonesia in marrying the Thomas and Uber Cups. In the 2018 Uber Cup, Japan won the championship after beating Thailand in the final. Unfortunately, in the top match of the Thomas Cup, the State of Sakura lost 1-3 to China.
