1973 Thomas Cup
Encyclopedia
The 1973 Thomas Cup was the 9th edition of the Thomas Cup
, the world championship of men's international team badminton
(its female counterpart is the Uber Cup
). The final set of ties (team matches) involving regional zone winners and the defending champion nation were held in Jakarta
, Indonesia
in late May and early June 1973. Beginning in 1948-1949
the tournament was held every three years until 1982
and has been held every two years thereafter. For more details on the format of Thomas Cup competition see Wikipedia's general article on the Thomas Cup
.
Indonesia
won its fifth title after beating Denmark
in the Final Round.
Australasian zone
Asian zone
European zone
Panamerican zone
edged their doubles opponents 15-12 in the third game to put India into the inter-zone playoffs for the first time since 1955. In the Pan American zone a young Mexican team parlayed wins by their top two singles players, Roy Diaz Gonzalez
and Victor Jaramillo Luque, with an upset win in doubles to defeat the USA 5–4. It thus overcame an estimable effort from 41 year old Jim Poole
who won all three of his matches, including his final Thomas Cup appearance in singles. In the zone final, however, Mexico was beaten 6–3 by a well seasoned Canadian team which included ex-Thai stars Channarong Ratanaseangsuang
and Raphi Kanchanaraphi
, both in their mid thirties.
In the European zone England was upset 4–5 by a solid West German squad that featured a world class singles player in Wolfgang Bochow
who won both of his matches, as well as a world class doubles team in Roland Maywald
and Willi Braun
who won the last match of the tie to clinch the victory. Elsewhere in Europe a Scottish team that included Bob McCoig
playing in his sixth Thomas Cup series gave Sweden unexpected difficulty but succumbed 4–5. The tendency toward close contests, however, did not extend to perennial European power Denmark which beat West Germany 7–2 and Sweden 8–1 respectively in the zone semifinal and final. Young Flemming Delfs
made his Thomas Cup debut in these ties by handily winning his three singles matches.
The greatest drama at the highest level of play in the qualifying ties, came in two Asian zone battles, both involving traditional power Malaysia. In the first of these Malaysia and Japan alternated tight victories in perhaps the longest and closest tie in Thomas Cup history. Malaysia won the last doubles match in three games to advance to the zone final, but Punch Gunalan
's 17-16 third game win over Japan's Junji Honma on the second night of play shows how narrow was the difference between victory and defeat. If Malaysia had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Japan, however, it proceeded to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against its next opponent, Thailand. Up three matches to none, Malaysia's undoing began when Tan Aik Huang
, who had played an earlier singles, suffered a cramp and was carried off the doubles court to end the first night's play at 3–1. Though Aik Huang played the next day he lost both of his matches, and Gunalan's win at third singles was offset by Tan Aik Mong's singles loss. In the final and decisive match Gunalan and the veteran Ng Boon Bee
seemed unnerved and were routed by veteran Sangob Rattanusorn
and young star Bandid Jaiyen
. The two Thais had also played singles and emerged as the heroes of an upset victory. Conversely, it was a sad final Thomas Cup tie for three of Malaysia's "greats," Ng Boon Bee, Tan Aik Huang, and Punch Gunalan.
The first tie of the inter-zone playoffs in Jakarta pitting Canada against India was another rousing 5–4 battle featuring numerous close matches. A few days shy of his eighteenth birthday, India's Prakash Padukone
showed signs of future greatness by defeating both Jamie Paulson
(climbing back from 6-14 down in the third) and Bruce Rollick in titanic three game struggles. Paulson, however, won his remaining singles and both of his doubles with the ebullient Yves Pare. Ex-Thais Raphi Kanchanaraphi
and Channarong Ratanaseangsuang
completed a sweep of the doubles allowing Canada to advance to the semifinal against Denmark.
Unfortunately for spectators, the Canada vs. India tie was the last of the dramatic, issue-always-in-doubt team contests which had characterized much of the 72-73 Thomas Cup series. Canada, which needed to be at its best to be competitive against a typically talented Danish lineup, was flat instead and lost tamely 0–9. Svend Pri
, playing both singles and doubles, won all of his matches in straight games. Kanchanaraphi and Ratanaseangsuang, each of whom had winning Thomas Cup records against the Danes in matches dating back to 1961
and 1964
, found the going rougher in their mid thirties. Dropping only two games in the tie, Denmark advanced to the Thomas Cup final for the fourth time.
In the other semifinal Thailand, an upset winner of the Asian zone qualifier, fought hard but was out-gunned by an Indonesian team that was perhaps the best yet in their then almost unbroken string of Thomas Cup success. Thailand's diminutive but highly talented Bandid Jaiyen
wore down the veteran Muljadi
in three games, but the Thais were unable to capture another match. Traditionally strong in doubles, the Thais dropped eight straight doubles games, only one of them close, to Indonesian pairs containing future "legends" Tjun Tjun
, Christian Hadinata
, and Ade Chandra
. With Rudy Hartono
winning all four of his matches for the fifth consecutive time, Indonesia advanced to play in its sixth straight final.
for Indonesia and Henning Borch
for Denmark were the only holdovers from the controversial 1964 final
between the two nations (they had faced each other at third singles with Muljadi, then known as Ang Tjin Siang, winning). Both ended their Thomas Cup careers with this '73 final. It was a happy ending for Muljadi who outlasted Elo Hansen
in three hard games in the first match of the tie, and then beat a jaded Svend Pri
in straight games on the second night (thus completing a perfect 6–0 singles record in the championship rounds of Thomas Cup). Pri was jaded on the second night largely because of his colossal effort on the first night in handing Rudy Hartono
his first Thomas Cup singles loss. Smashing accurately in the first and third games and staving off several match points Pri threw his racket to the crowd at the conclusion of the battle. Sterling achievement though it was, it did little to spark a good Danish team against a generally better opponent on the opponent's home court. Hansen became ill and defaulted his second night's match to Hartono. Budding Danish star Flemming Delfs
faded after the first game to lose the third singles match to Amril Nuhrman 4-15 in the third. The doubles matches were less competitive. 1970 All-England champions
Tom Bacher and Poul Petersen, never at their best in the tropics, lost tamely to Christian
and Chandra
and to Hartono and Tjun Tjun
. As for Henning Borch, the only Dane at that time to have competed in five inter-zone campaigns, it was a final disappointment. He and Svend Pri failed to score more than eight points in any of their doubles games. Indonesia won the tie 8–1, and with it their fifth Thomas Cup title.
Thomas Cup
The Thomas Cup, sometimes called the World Men's Team Championships, is an international badminton competition among teams representing member nations of the Badminton World Federation , the sport's global governing body...
, the world championship of men's international team badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
(its female counterpart is the Uber Cup
Uber Cup
The Uber Cup, sometimes called the World Team Championships for Women, is a major international badminton competition contested by women's national badminton teams. First held in 1956-1957 and contested at three year intervals, it has been contested every two years since 1984 when its scheduled...
). The final set of ties (team matches) involving regional zone winners and the defending champion nation were held in Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
in late May and early June 1973. Beginning in 1948-1949
1949 Thomas Cup
The 1949 Thomas Cup was the inaugural tournament of Thomas Cup, the most important men's badminton team competition in the world.The tournament was originally planned for 1941-1942 , but was delayed when World War II exploded across the continents...
the tournament was held every three years until 1982
1982 Thomas Cup
The 1982 Thomas Cup was the 12th tournament of Thomas Cup, the most important men's badminton team competition in the world. The final round was held in London, England.China won its first title after beating Indonesia in the final round.-Teams:...
and has been held every two years thereafter. For more details on the format of Thomas Cup competition see Wikipedia's general article on the Thomas Cup
Thomas Cup
The Thomas Cup, sometimes called the World Men's Team Championships, is an international badminton competition among teams representing member nations of the Badminton World Federation , the sport's global governing body...
.
Indonesia
Indonesia national badminton team
The Indonesia national badminton team represents Indonesia in international badminton team competitions and is controlled by the Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia, PBSI , the governing body for badminton in Indonesia...
won its fifth title after beating Denmark
Denmark national badminton team
The Denmark national badminton team is a badminton team located in Denmark and represents the nation of Denmark in international badminton team competitions...
in the Final Round.
Teams
23 teams from 4 regions took part in the competition. As defending champion, Indonesia skipped the qualifications and the first round of inter-zone competition, and played directly in the second round (effectively, the semifinals of the tournament).Australasian zone
Asian zone
European zone
Panamerican zone
Qualification (Intra-zone) summary
Early ties (team matches) in the 1972-1973 Thomas Cup series were marked by an unusual number of close contests; the winners of several of these were not determined until the final match. One such instance occurred in the Australasian zone final between India and New Zealand. Here Asif Parpia and seventeen year old prodigy Prakash PadukonePrakash Padukone
Prakash Padukone is a former badminton player from Karnataka, India. Among other championships, he won the All England Championship and became the first Indian to do so. Prakash was awarded the Padma Sri in 1982...
edged their doubles opponents 15-12 in the third game to put India into the inter-zone playoffs for the first time since 1955. In the Pan American zone a young Mexican team parlayed wins by their top two singles players, Roy Diaz Gonzalez
Roy Díaz González
Roy Díaz González is a former world-class badminton player from Mexico. Something of a child prodigy in the sport, González began touring internationally at fourteen, the age at which he captured the first of his many Mexican national singles titles. He won the Belgian International men's doubles...
and Victor Jaramillo Luque, with an upset win in doubles to defeat the USA 5–4. It thus overcame an estimable effort from 41 year old Jim Poole
James Richard Poole
James Richard Poole is a former American badminton player who won national and international championships between 1958 and 1979.-Career:...
who won all three of his matches, including his final Thomas Cup appearance in singles. In the zone final, however, Mexico was beaten 6–3 by a well seasoned Canadian team which included ex-Thai stars Channarong Ratanaseangsuang
Channarong Ratanaseangsuang
Channarong Ratanaseangsuang is a former badminton player and coach who represented both Thailand and Canada in international competition. In the 1960s he rated among the world's elite singles players, reaching the final of the prestigious All-England Championship and winning the open...
and Raphi Kanchanaraphi
Raphi Kanchanaraphi
Raphi Kanchanaraphi was a world-class badminton player who represented both Thailand and Canada in international competition, and won national doubles and mixed doubles titles in both countries...
, both in their mid thirties.
In the European zone England was upset 4–5 by a solid West German squad that featured a world class singles player in Wolfgang Bochow
Wolfgang Bochow
Wolfgang Bochow is a retired male badminton player from West Germany who rated among the world's best in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Tall and powerful, he had one of the strongest backhands in the game.-Career:...
who won both of his matches, as well as a world class doubles team in Roland Maywald
Roland Maywald
Roland Maywald is a former German badminton player who won numerous German national and other European titles from the late 1960s to the mid 1980's. Though he won the German national singles title in 1974, Maywald was primarily a doubles specialist...
and Willi Braun
Willi Braun
-Career:A doubles specialist noted for his ability to "cut off" the shuttle in the forecourt, Braun won the gold medal at the 1972 and 1974 European Badminton Championships in men's doubles with Roland Maywald. They reached the semifinal of the All-England Championships on three occasions and won...
who won the last match of the tie to clinch the victory. Elsewhere in Europe a Scottish team that included Bob McCoig
Robert S. McCoig
Robert S. McCoig was a Scottish badminton player who won numerous national and international titles from the late 1950s to the mid 1970's. Though he captured a record fifteen Scottish National singles titles, as well as several Scottish Open singles titles, his greatest international victories...
playing in his sixth Thomas Cup series gave Sweden unexpected difficulty but succumbed 4–5. The tendency toward close contests, however, did not extend to perennial European power Denmark which beat West Germany 7–2 and Sweden 8–1 respectively in the zone semifinal and final. Young Flemming Delfs
Flemming Delfs
Flemming Delfs is a former Danish badminton player who won Danish national and international championships from the early 1970s to the early 1980s.-Career:...
made his Thomas Cup debut in these ties by handily winning his three singles matches.
The greatest drama at the highest level of play in the qualifying ties, came in two Asian zone battles, both involving traditional power Malaysia. In the first of these Malaysia and Japan alternated tight victories in perhaps the longest and closest tie in Thomas Cup history. Malaysia won the last doubles match in three games to advance to the zone final, but Punch Gunalan
Punch Gunalan
Datuk Punch Gunalan is a former male badminton star of Malaysia and one of the finest combination doubles and singles players that the country has ever produced....
's 17-16 third game win over Japan's Junji Honma on the second night of play shows how narrow was the difference between victory and defeat. If Malaysia had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Japan, however, it proceeded to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against its next opponent, Thailand. Up three matches to none, Malaysia's undoing began when Tan Aik Huang
Tan Aik Huang
Tan Aik Huang is a retired Malaysian Chinese badminton player noted for his superb footwork and patience.He won the All England Open Badminton Championships, then considered the unofficial World Badminton Championships, in men's singles in 1966, defeating Japan's Masao Akiyama in the finals...
, who had played an earlier singles, suffered a cramp and was carried off the doubles court to end the first night's play at 3–1. Though Aik Huang played the next day he lost both of his matches, and Gunalan's win at third singles was offset by Tan Aik Mong's singles loss. In the final and decisive match Gunalan and the veteran Ng Boon Bee
Ng Boon Bee
Ng Boon Bee is a former Malaysian badminton player who won numerous international doubles titles from the early 1960s to the early 1970s. In combination, first, with Tan Yee Khan and later with Punch Gunalan he won open men's doubles events in Malaysia, Indonesia, Denmark, Germany, Canada, and...
seemed unnerved and were routed by veteran Sangob Rattanusorn
Sangob Rattanusorn
Sangob Rattanusorn is a former badminton player from Thailand who won numerous titles and represented his country in team play from the early 1960s through the early 1970s...
and young star Bandid Jaiyen
Bandid Jaiyen
Bandid Jaiyen is a former badminton player who won numerous Thai national titles and also excelled internationally between the late 1960s and the early 1980s. Thailand's leading singles player for a decade, the diminutive Jaiyen performed exceptionally well in Thomas Cup competition...
. The two Thais had also played singles and emerged as the heroes of an upset victory. Conversely, it was a sad final Thomas Cup tie for three of Malaysia's "greats," Ng Boon Bee, Tan Aik Huang, and Punch Gunalan.
First round
| 5–4 | ||
| bye | ||
| bye | ||
| bye |
Second round
| 8–1 | ||
| 9–0 |
The first tie of the inter-zone playoffs in Jakarta pitting Canada against India was another rousing 5–4 battle featuring numerous close matches. A few days shy of his eighteenth birthday, India's Prakash Padukone
Prakash Padukone
Prakash Padukone is a former badminton player from Karnataka, India. Among other championships, he won the All England Championship and became the first Indian to do so. Prakash was awarded the Padma Sri in 1982...
showed signs of future greatness by defeating both Jamie Paulson
Jamie Paulson
Jamie Paulson is a former Canadian badminton player who won national and international titles from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s. In 1970 he won the men's singles at the quadrennial British Commonwealth Games making him the only Canadian yet to do so. He finished second in the same event in 1974...
(climbing back from 6-14 down in the third) and Bruce Rollick in titanic three game struggles. Paulson, however, won his remaining singles and both of his doubles with the ebullient Yves Pare. Ex-Thais Raphi Kanchanaraphi
Raphi Kanchanaraphi
Raphi Kanchanaraphi was a world-class badminton player who represented both Thailand and Canada in international competition, and won national doubles and mixed doubles titles in both countries...
and Channarong Ratanaseangsuang
Channarong Ratanaseangsuang
Channarong Ratanaseangsuang is a former badminton player and coach who represented both Thailand and Canada in international competition. In the 1960s he rated among the world's elite singles players, reaching the final of the prestigious All-England Championship and winning the open...
completed a sweep of the doubles allowing Canada to advance to the semifinal against Denmark.
Unfortunately for spectators, the Canada vs. India tie was the last of the dramatic, issue-always-in-doubt team contests which had characterized much of the 72-73 Thomas Cup series. Canada, which needed to be at its best to be competitive against a typically talented Danish lineup, was flat instead and lost tamely 0–9. Svend Pri
Svend Pri
Svend Pri was a badminton player from Denmark who won numerous major titles from the mid 1960's through the mid 1970's. His play was marked by great power, tenacity, and tactical astuteness...
, playing both singles and doubles, won all of his matches in straight games. Kanchanaraphi and Ratanaseangsuang, each of whom had winning Thomas Cup records against the Danes in matches dating back to 1961
1961 Thomas Cup
The Thomas Cup competition is an international team tournament for supremacy in men's badminton . Beginning in 1948-1949 it was held every three years until 1982 and thereafter every two years...
and 1964
1964 Thomas Cup
The Thomas Cup competition is an international team tournament for supremacy in men's badminton . Beginning in 1948-1949 it was held every three years until 1982 and thereafter it has been held every two years...
, found the going rougher in their mid thirties. Dropping only two games in the tie, Denmark advanced to the Thomas Cup final for the fourth time.
In the other semifinal Thailand, an upset winner of the Asian zone qualifier, fought hard but was out-gunned by an Indonesian team that was perhaps the best yet in their then almost unbroken string of Thomas Cup success. Thailand's diminutive but highly talented Bandid Jaiyen
Bandid Jaiyen
Bandid Jaiyen is a former badminton player who won numerous Thai national titles and also excelled internationally between the late 1960s and the early 1980s. Thailand's leading singles player for a decade, the diminutive Jaiyen performed exceptionally well in Thomas Cup competition...
wore down the veteran Muljadi
Muljadi
Muljadi is a former world class badminton player who represented Indonesia between 1963 and 1973. Muljadi's career spanned two separate eras of Indonesian domination of the then triennial Thomas Cup competition: 1958 to 1964 and 1970 to 1979...
in three games, but the Thais were unable to capture another match. Traditionally strong in doubles, the Thais dropped eight straight doubles games, only one of them close, to Indonesian pairs containing future "legends" Tjun Tjun
Tjun Tjun
Tjun Tjun is a former Chinese-Indonesian badminton player. Though a singles player early in his career, he became one of the sport's greatest doubles specialists. His game was notable for its speed, power, accuracy, and aggressiveness...
, Christian Hadinata
Christian Hadinata
Christian Hadinata is a former Chinese Indonesian badminton player.Though early in his career he was a fine singles player who reached the final of the prestigious All-England Championship in 1973, Christian's success in doubles earned him recognition as one of great doubles players in badminton...
, and Ade Chandra
Ade Chandra
Ade Chandra is a retired Chinese Indonesian male badminton player. A doubles specialist of ample bulk by Indonesian standards, he was noted for his power and quick defensive reflexes...
. With Rudy Hartono
Rudy Hartono
Rudy Hartono Kurniawan , born August 18, 1949) is a former Chinese Indonesian badminton player who won the men's singles title at the World Championship in 1980, and the prestigious All-England Championship trophy eight times, seven times consecutively , in the 1960s and 1970s. He is one of the...
winning all four of his matches for the fifth consecutive time, Indonesia advanced to play in its sixth straight final.
Final round
MuljadiMuljadi
Muljadi is a former world class badminton player who represented Indonesia between 1963 and 1973. Muljadi's career spanned two separate eras of Indonesian domination of the then triennial Thomas Cup competition: 1958 to 1964 and 1970 to 1979...
for Indonesia and Henning Borch
Henning Borch
Henning Borch is a former world class badminton player from Denmark who won major tournaments from the early 1960s to the early 1970s. In the 1964 Borch reached the men's singles final at the prestigious All-England Championships, narrowly losing to fellow countryman Knud Aage Nielsen...
for Denmark were the only holdovers from the controversial 1964 final
1964 Thomas Cup
The Thomas Cup competition is an international team tournament for supremacy in men's badminton . Beginning in 1948-1949 it was held every three years until 1982 and thereafter it has been held every two years...
between the two nations (they had faced each other at third singles with Muljadi, then known as Ang Tjin Siang, winning). Both ended their Thomas Cup careers with this '73 final. It was a happy ending for Muljadi who outlasted Elo Hansen
Elo Hansen
Elo Hansen is a retired male badminton player from Denmark who won international titles in all three events from the late 1960s through the mid 1970s.-Career:...
in three hard games in the first match of the tie, and then beat a jaded Svend Pri
Svend Pri
Svend Pri was a badminton player from Denmark who won numerous major titles from the mid 1960's through the mid 1970's. His play was marked by great power, tenacity, and tactical astuteness...
in straight games on the second night (thus completing a perfect 6–0 singles record in the championship rounds of Thomas Cup). Pri was jaded on the second night largely because of his colossal effort on the first night in handing Rudy Hartono
Rudy Hartono
Rudy Hartono Kurniawan , born August 18, 1949) is a former Chinese Indonesian badminton player who won the men's singles title at the World Championship in 1980, and the prestigious All-England Championship trophy eight times, seven times consecutively , in the 1960s and 1970s. He is one of the...
his first Thomas Cup singles loss. Smashing accurately in the first and third games and staving off several match points Pri threw his racket to the crowd at the conclusion of the battle. Sterling achievement though it was, it did little to spark a good Danish team against a generally better opponent on the opponent's home court. Hansen became ill and defaulted his second night's match to Hartono. Budding Danish star Flemming Delfs
Flemming Delfs
Flemming Delfs is a former Danish badminton player who won Danish national and international championships from the early 1970s to the early 1980s.-Career:...
faded after the first game to lose the third singles match to Amril Nuhrman 4-15 in the third. The doubles matches were less competitive. 1970 All-England champions
All England Open Badminton Championships
The All England Open Badminton Championships, or simply All England, is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious badminton tournaments. Played annually, it developed after the success of world's first badminton tournament held in Guildford in 1898...
Tom Bacher and Poul Petersen, never at their best in the tropics, lost tamely to Christian
Christian Hadinata
Christian Hadinata is a former Chinese Indonesian badminton player.Though early in his career he was a fine singles player who reached the final of the prestigious All-England Championship in 1973, Christian's success in doubles earned him recognition as one of great doubles players in badminton...
and Chandra
Ade Chandra
Ade Chandra is a retired Chinese Indonesian male badminton player. A doubles specialist of ample bulk by Indonesian standards, he was noted for his power and quick defensive reflexes...
and to Hartono and Tjun Tjun
Tjun Tjun
Tjun Tjun is a former Chinese-Indonesian badminton player. Though a singles player early in his career, he became one of the sport's greatest doubles specialists. His game was notable for its speed, power, accuracy, and aggressiveness...
. As for Henning Borch, the only Dane at that time to have competed in five inter-zone campaigns, it was a final disappointment. He and Svend Pri failed to score more than eight points in any of their doubles games. Indonesia won the tie 8–1, and with it their fifth Thomas Cup title.
| 1973 Thomas Cup Champions |
|---|
| Fifth title |