1955 Thomas Cup
Encyclopedia
The Thomas Cup competition is an international team tournament for supremacy in men's badminton
(its female counterpart is the Uber Cup
). Beginning in 1948-1949
, it was held every three years until 1982
and has been held every two years thereafter. Twenty-one national teams officially entered the third Thomas Cup series in 1954-1955 but two of these, Belgium and Burma, defaulted their opening ties (team matches). Four qualifying zones were established: Asia, Australasia, Europe and Pan America. Winners from each zone played-off in Singapore in late May and early June for the right to play Malaya
which, as defending champion, was exempt until it met a challenger in a conclusive challenge round tie. For a more detailed description of the Thomas Cup format see Wikipedia's general article on the Thomas Cup
.
, India
won the Asian zone, its toughest competition coming in its opening contest against an improving Thailand
6–3 . In Europe Denmark
, now boasting nineteen year-old prodigy Finn Kobbero, beat three opponents with the loss of only one individual match. In the Pan American zone the USA
lost 4 of 5 singles matches to Canada but won the tie by sweeping the doubles. In the Australasian zone J. E. Robson's singles victories were not enough to keep his New Zealand
team from falling to Australia 2–7.
n India
Americas
United States
Europe
Denmark
Australasian Australia
Malaya
(exempt until challenge round)
In the inter-zone playoffs India avenged its 1952 loss to the USA by winning 4 of 5 singles matches and holding its own in doubles to defeat the Americans 6–3. Though Australia played some competitive matches against European power Denmark, it was unable to win any of them (0–9). Young Kobbero was the star of the inter-zone final between Denmark and India. He won all four of his matches which included a fine three game duel with India's stylish Nandu Natekar, leading Denmark to a 6–3 victory. Thus Denmark emerged as the challenger to Cup-holder Malaya.
was successful though he dropped a game to both Kobbero and Jorn Skaarup. Eddie Choong, with two All-England
singles titles already to his name, made his Thomas Cup debut by beating both Kobbero and Skaarup in straight games. Ong Poh Lim
was once again stalwart, winning his match at third singles and both of his doubles partnered by veteran Ooi Teik Hock
. The Danes could muster only one victory which came in doubles and largely from the efforts of Kobbero's partner Jorgen Hammergaard Hansen
whose powerful smash lived up to his name. Winning 8 matches to 1, Malaya thus retained the Cup.
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...
). 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...
, it 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. Twenty-one national teams officially entered the third Thomas Cup series in 1954-1955 but two of these, Belgium and Burma, defaulted their opening ties (team matches). Four qualifying zones were established: Asia, Australasia, Europe and Pan America. Winners from each zone played-off in Singapore in late May and early June for the right to play Malaya
Malaysia national badminton team
The Malaysia national badminton team is a badminton team that plays for Malaysia in international competitions. The men's team has enjoyed immense success, having won the Thomas Cup five times, most recently in 1992...
which, as defending champion, was exempt until it met a challenger in a conclusive challenge round tie. For a more detailed description of the Thomas Cup format 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...
.
Intra-zone summary
As it had in the 1951-1952 series1952 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 has been held every two years. Twelve national teams contested for the Thomas Cup in the 1951-1952 badminton season, the...
, India
India national badminton team
India National Badminton team represents India in international team badminton. The Indian team competed in the 2011 Sudirman Cup and shared the fifth rank with three other teams, what is up to now the best performance in the Sudirman Cup.-Thomas and Uber cup:...
won the Asian zone, its toughest competition coming in its opening contest against an improving Thailand
Thailand national badminton team
The Thailand national badminton team represents Thailand in international badminton team competitions.-Participation in BWF competitions:Thomas Cup *1958 - Final round *1961 - Runner-up*1964 - Final round *1973 - Semi-finalist...
6–3 . In Europe 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...
, now boasting nineteen year-old prodigy Finn Kobbero, beat three opponents with the loss of only one individual match. In the Pan American zone the USA
United States national badminton team
The United States national badminton team represents the United States in international badminton team competitions.-Participation in BWF competitions:Thomas Cup *1952 - Runner-upUber Cup *1957 - Winner*1960 - Winner*1963 - Winner...
lost 4 of 5 singles matches to Canada but won the tie by sweeping the doubles. In the Australasian zone J. E. Robson's singles victories were not enough to keep his New Zealand
New Zealand national badminton team
The New Zealand national badminton team represents New Zealand in international badminton team competitions.-Participation in BWF competitions:Thomas Cup *2008 - 9th/12thUber Cup *2008 - 9th/12thSudirman Cup *1989 - 19th*2001 - 25th*2005 - 19th...
team from falling to Australia 2–7.
Inter-zone playoffs
AsiaAsia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n India
India national badminton team
India National Badminton team represents India in international team badminton. The Indian team competed in the 2011 Sudirman Cup and shared the fifth rank with three other teams, what is up to now the best performance in the Sudirman Cup.-Thomas and Uber cup:...
Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
United States
United States national badminton team
The United States national badminton team represents the United States in international badminton team competitions.-Participation in BWF competitions:Thomas Cup *1952 - Runner-upUber Cup *1957 - Winner*1960 - Winner*1963 - Winner...
Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
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...
Australasian Australia
Malaya
Malaysia national badminton team
The Malaysia national badminton team is a badminton team that plays for Malaysia in international competitions. The men's team has enjoyed immense success, having won the Thomas Cup five times, most recently in 1992...
(exempt until challenge round)
In the inter-zone playoffs India avenged its 1952 loss to the USA by winning 4 of 5 singles matches and holding its own in doubles to defeat the Americans 6–3. Though Australia played some competitive matches against European power Denmark, it was unable to win any of them (0–9). Young Kobbero was the star of the inter-zone final between Denmark and India. He won all four of his matches which included a fine three game duel with India's stylish Nandu Natekar, leading Denmark to a 6–3 victory. Thus Denmark emerged as the challenger to Cup-holder Malaya.
First round
| India India national badminton team India National Badminton team represents India in international team badminton. The Indian team competed in the 2011 Sudirman Cup and shared the fifth rank with three other teams, what is up to now the best performance in the Sudirman Cup.-Thomas and Uber cup:...  |
6–3 |  United StatesUnited States national badminton team The United States national badminton team represents the United States in international badminton team competitions.-Participation in BWF competitions:Thomas Cup *1952 - Runner-upUber Cup *1957 - Winner*1960 - Winner*1963 - Winner... |
| 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...  |
9–0 |  Australia |
Final round
| 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... |
6–3 | India India national badminton team India National Badminton team represents India in international team badminton. The Indian team competed in the 2011 Sudirman Cup and shared the fifth rank with three other teams, what is up to now the best performance in the Sudirman Cup.-Thomas and Uber cup:... |
Challenge round
The competitive swan song of Malaya's venerable Wong Peng SoonWong Peng Soon
Wong Peng Soon, MBE was an Ethnic Chinese badminton player who reigned as a top player in Malaya from the 1930s to the 1950s...
was successful though he dropped a game to both Kobbero and Jorn Skaarup. Eddie Choong, with two All-England
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...
singles titles already to his name, made his Thomas Cup debut by beating both Kobbero and Skaarup in straight games. Ong Poh Lim
Ong Poh Lim
Ong Poh Lim was a Malayan/Singaporean badminton player who won numerous national and international titles from the late 1940s to the early 1960s. In 1954 he shared the prestigious All-England men's doubles title with Ooi Teik Hock, having previously reached the finals of both singles and doubles...
was once again stalwart, winning his match at third singles and both of his doubles partnered by veteran Ooi Teik Hock
Ooi Teik Hock
Ooi Teik Hock was a Malayan badminton player who won Malayan national titles and represented his country in team and individual competition between 1939 and 1958. Teik Hock played on four consecutive Malayan Thomas Cup teams the first three of which claimed world titles...
. The Danes could muster only one victory which came in doubles and largely from the efforts of Kobbero's partner Jorgen Hammergaard Hansen
Jorgen Hammergaard Hansen
Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen was a Danish badminton player who won numerous major international titles from the mid 1950s to the mid 1960s. A doubles specialist, Hammergaard Hansen shared six All-England men's doubles titles with Finn Kobbero and reached the final round of All-England mixed doubles...
whose powerful smash lived up to his name. Winning 8 matches to 1, Malaya thus retained the Cup.
| 1955 Thomas Cup Champions |
|---|
 Malaya Malaysia national badminton team The Malaysia national badminton team is a badminton team that plays for Malaysia in international competitions. The men's team has enjoyed immense success, having won the Thomas Cup five times, most recently in 1992... Third title |