1964 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 thereafter it has been held every two years. Twenty-six national teams, each (except the defending champion nation) starting from one of four qualifying zones (Asia, Australasia, Europe, and Pan America), vied for the Thomas Cup during the 1963-1964 badminton season. Qualifying zone winners played-off in Tokyo, Japan for the right to face defending champion Indonesia
, which was exempt from earlier ties (team matches), in a conclusive challenge round tie. Prior to 1964 the defending champion nation had regularly hosted both the inter-zone playoffs and the challenge round, but a rules change effective that year prevented the same defending champion nation from having this advantage for two successive Thomas Cup seasons. For a more detailed description of the Thomas Cup format see Wikipedia's general article on the Thomas Cup
.
and India
competing in the Australasian zone, Japan
competing in the Pan American zone, and Hong Kong defaulting, Thailand
, the 1961 Thomas Cup runner-up
, shut out Taiwan (9–0) to win the Asian zone. After missing the 1960-1961 series, Charoen Wattanasin
had returned to the team, while Thailand's other top singles player, Channarong Ratanaseangsuang
(living in California) would rejoin the team for the inter-zone matches.
In the Australasian zone a rebuilding Malaya (soon to be Malaysia), with no hold-overs from its champion teams of the 1950s, defeated India (8–1) and Australia (9–0) to advance to the inter-zone playoffs. All-rounder Teh Kew San
went eight for eight in this set of ties. Previously the domain of only the USA
and Canada
, the Pan American zone welcomed Jamaica, Mexico, and, somewhat incongruously, Japan. The Japanese, however, proved their mettle by shutting out Mexico and by defeating Canada 8–1. In the zone final against the USA they eliminated the nation which had won all previous Pan American zone qualifications 7–2, despite two singles victories by American stalwart Jim Poole
. Playing doubles and third singles, Japan's team captain, Eiichi Nagai won all of his nine matches in this series of ties.
Denmark
again won the European zone handily, brushing aside England
8–1 in the final. The Danish lineup boasted five time All-England
singles champion Erland Kops
(still only 27), the reigning All-England
champion Knud Aage Nielsen
, the All-England singles runner-up, Henning Borch
, and the reigning and six time All-England doubles champions, Finn Kobbero and Jorgen Hammergaard Hansen
. With the final ties scheduled for temperate Tokyo rather than equatorial and partisan Jakarta, many observers thought that this would be Denmark's "year."
Australasia
Malaya
Indonesia
(exempt until Challenge Round)
Asia
Thailand
Europe
Denmark
Americas
Japan
Collectively, the players contesting in Tokyo in mid May were probably the strongest group that had yet appeared at the final venue of the Thomas Cup competition. Even "third string" singles matches often pitted true world class opponents against each other. With more difficulty than might have been expected, Thailand eliminated the host country's team 6–3. Ratanaseangsuang and Wattanasin won hard fought singles matches, but the vaunted Thai doubles teams could earn only a split with their equally quick and aggressive Japanese counterparts. Yoshinori Itagaki had a hand in two winning matches for Japan. In the other semifinal Denmark's powerful singles lineup shutout Malaya's, though individual matches were competitive. Eighteen year old Tan Aik Huang
served notice of future achievement by earning twenty-six points from Erland Kops. Denmark advanced 7–2 with Malaya's wins coming against the Danish "second string" doubles.
The inter-zone final between Denmark and Thailand was a fierce struggle featuring five three game matches. Denmark won four of the five to avenge its 1961
defeat and squeeze past Thailand 6–3. Kobbero and Hammergaard Hansen "got even" with the same pairs (Bhornchima and Kanchanaraphi
; Chumkum
and Vatanatham) that had defeated them in '61. Kops won three game singles matches against both Ratanaseansuang and Wattanasin. As had happened against Malaya, however, he lost both of his doubles matches paired with P. E. Nielsen. The result of the Danish strategy of using Kops in the maximum number of matches in all ties was that he had now played 20 pressure filled games (twice as many as any of his teammates) without losing a singles match but without winning a doubles. This strategy was not altered, however, for the decisive Challenge Round against Indonesia.
doubles teams had contributed to its Thomas Cup successes in 1958
and in 1961
, its singles players had led the way by losing only two matches in thirty and none in either Challenge Round. By 1964, however, "big guns" Tan Joe Hok
and Ferry Sonneville
were seemingly past their primes. Though only 26, Tan had been busy with studies and had played tournaments only infrequently and not very successfully over the previous two seasons. Sonneville was 33 and his last major tournament victories were also about two years old.
Thomas Cup competition, however, brought out the best in these two players. It also brought out the worst in some of Indonesia's fans in Tokyo whose behavior crossed the line from rabid cheering and barracking to outright interference with play. Especially egregious was the deliberate use of flash photography when Danish players were facing their cameras. Ultimately, Denmark's Erland Kops became something of a "goat" losing to both Tan Joe Hok and Ferry Sonneville, despite being 14-6 up in the second game against Sonneville after winning the first. Sonneville also beat All-England champion K. A. Nielsen who was able to gain a split by defeating Tan in three games. With the victory of Indonesia's "secret weapon"
Ang Tjin Siang (later known as Muljadi
) over Borch, the Indonesians, against form, took four of the five singles matches. Nevertheless, with the brilliant Kobbero and Hammergaard Hansen unbeaten throughout the entire campaign, the Danes still had a chance at 3–4 when Kops and Borch met Tan King Gwan and A. P. Unang in the eighth match of the tie. When the Danes won the first game at 15-12 crowd dissension became so intense that play was delayed for 20 minutes. After it resumed the Indonesians gradually gained control of the match to win it 15-6 in the third. The Cup, once again, had eluded The Danish grasp. An official Danish protest against the result was eventually denied by the International Badminton Federation (now the Badminton World Federation).
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...
competition is an international team tournament for supremacy in men's 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...
). 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 thereafter it has been held every two years. Twenty-six national teams, each (except the defending champion nation) starting from one of four qualifying zones (Asia, Australasia, Europe, and Pan America), vied for the Thomas Cup during the 1963-1964 badminton season. Qualifying zone winners played-off in Tokyo, Japan for the right to face defending champion 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...
, which was exempt from earlier ties (team matches), in a conclusive challenge round tie. Prior to 1964 the defending champion nation had regularly hosted both the inter-zone playoffs and the challenge round, but a rules change effective that year prevented the same defending champion nation from having this advantage for two successive Thomas Cup seasons. 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
With MalayaMalaysia 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...
and 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:...
competing in the Australasian zone, Japan
Japan national badminton team
The Japan national badminton team represents Japan in international badminton team competitions.-Participation in BWF competitions:Thomas Cup*1964 - Semi-finalist *1967 - Final round...
competing in the Pan American zone, and Hong Kong defaulting, 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...
, the 1961 Thomas Cup runner-up
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...
, shut out Taiwan (9–0) to win the Asian zone. After missing the 1960-1961 series, Charoen Wattanasin
Charoen Wattanasin
Charoen Wattanasin is a former badminton player from Thailand who won international championships in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Between 1958 and 1962 Wattanasin captured the open men's singles titles of Malaya, Ireland, Scotland, Norway, and France. He also shared the open men's doubles...
had returned to the team, while Thailand's other top singles player, 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...
(living in California) would rejoin the team for the inter-zone matches.
In the Australasian zone a rebuilding Malaya (soon to be Malaysia), with no hold-overs from its champion teams of the 1950s, defeated India (8–1) and Australia (9–0) to advance to the inter-zone playoffs. All-rounder Teh Kew San
Teh Kew San
Teh Kew San is a former Malaysian badminton player who won national and international titles from the late 1950s to the mid 1960s. An "all-rounder" , his greatest successes came in men's doubles with Lim Say Hup...
went eight for eight in this set of ties. Previously the domain of only 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...
and Canada
Canada national badminton team
The Canada national badminton team represents Canada in international badminton team competitions.-Participation in BWF competitions:Team Canada at 2011 Sudirman Cup in Qingdao, China.Men: Stephan Wojcikiewicz Derrick Ng Adrian Liu...
, the Pan American zone welcomed Jamaica, Mexico, and, somewhat incongruously, Japan. The Japanese, however, proved their mettle by shutting out Mexico and by defeating Canada 8–1. In the zone final against the USA they eliminated the nation which had won all previous Pan American zone qualifications 7–2, despite two singles victories by American stalwart 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:...
. Playing doubles and third singles, Japan's team captain, Eiichi Nagai won all of his nine matches in this series of ties.
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...
again won the European zone handily, brushing aside England
England national badminton team
The England national badminton team represents England in international badminton team competitions and is controlled by Badminton England, the governing body for badminton in England.-Participation in BWF competitions:Thomas Cup *1984 - Third Place...
8–1 in the final. The Danish lineup boasted five time 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 champion Erland Kops
Erland Kops
Erland Kops is a former badminton player from Denmark who won numerous major international singles and doubles titles from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. Kops was the first Westerner to win major singles titles in the Far East. He combined abundant speed, power, and stamina with impressive...
(still only 27), the reigning 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...
champion Knud Aage Nielsen
Knud Aage Nielsen
Knud Aage Nielsen is a retired male badminton player from Denmark.Nielsen won the All England Open Badminton Championships, considered the unofficial World Badminton Championships, in men's singles in 1964...
, the All-England singles runner-up, 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...
, and the reigning and six time All-England doubles champions, Finn Kobbero and 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...
. With the final ties scheduled for temperate Tokyo rather than equatorial and partisan Jakarta, many observers thought that this would be Denmark's "year."
Inter-zone playoffs
5 teams from 4 regions took part in this edition. As defending champion, Indonesia was exempt until the Challenge Round.Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
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...
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...
(exempt until Challenge Round)
Asia
Asia
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...
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...
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...
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...
Japan
Japan national badminton team
The Japan national badminton team represents Japan in international badminton team competitions.-Participation in BWF competitions:Thomas Cup*1964 - Semi-finalist *1967 - Final round...
Collectively, the players contesting in Tokyo in mid May were probably the strongest group that had yet appeared at the final venue of the Thomas Cup competition. Even "third string" singles matches often pitted true world class opponents against each other. With more difficulty than might have been expected, Thailand eliminated the host country's team 6–3. Ratanaseangsuang and Wattanasin won hard fought singles matches, but the vaunted Thai doubles teams could earn only a split with their equally quick and aggressive Japanese counterparts. Yoshinori Itagaki had a hand in two winning matches for Japan. In the other semifinal Denmark's powerful singles lineup shutout Malaya's, though individual matches were competitive. Eighteen year old 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...
served notice of future achievement by earning twenty-six points from Erland Kops. Denmark advanced 7–2 with Malaya's wins coming against the Danish "second string" doubles.
The inter-zone final between Denmark and Thailand was a fierce struggle featuring five three game matches. Denmark won four of the five to avenge its 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...
defeat and squeeze past Thailand 6–3. Kobbero and Hammergaard Hansen "got even" with the same pairs (Bhornchima and 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...
; Chumkum
Chavalert Chumkum
Chavalert Chumkum is a former world-class badminton player who represented Thailand from the early 1960s to the early 1970s. At a time when Thailand was known for its doubles specialists, Chumkum won more Thai national men's doubles titles than any other player of his era. His Thomas Cup record is...
and Vatanatham) that had defeated them in '61. Kops won three game singles matches against both Ratanaseansuang and Wattanasin. As had happened against Malaya, however, he lost both of his doubles matches paired with P. E. Nielsen. The result of the Danish strategy of using Kops in the maximum number of matches in all ties was that he had now played 20 pressure filled games (twice as many as any of his teammates) without losing a singles match but without winning a doubles. This strategy was not altered, however, for the decisive Challenge Round against Indonesia.
Semifinal round
| 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 |  JapanJapan national badminton team The Japan national badminton team represents Japan in international badminton team competitions.-Participation in BWF competitions:Thomas Cup*1964 - Semi-finalist *1967 - 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...  |
7–2 |  MalayaMalaysia 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... |
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 | 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... |
Challenge round
Though Indonesia'sIndonesia 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...
doubles teams had contributed to its Thomas Cup successes in 1958
1958 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 has been held every two years thereafter. Nineteen teams contested for the Thomas Cup during the 1957-1958 season...
and in 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...
, its singles players had led the way by losing only two matches in thirty and none in either Challenge Round. By 1964, however, "big guns" Tan Joe Hok
Tan Joe Hok
Tan Joe Hok is an Indonesian badminton hero, who along with Ferry Sonneville and a cadre of fine doubles players set the foundation for an Indonesian badminton dynasty by dethroning perennial Thomas Cup champion Malaysia in 1958.He lived in Bandung until he finished high school. He received his B.S...
and Ferry Sonneville
Ferry Sonneville
Ferry Sonneville was an Indonesian badminton player noted for his touch, consistency, tactical astuteness, and coolness under pressure...
were seemingly past their primes. Though only 26, Tan had been busy with studies and had played tournaments only infrequently and not very successfully over the previous two seasons. Sonneville was 33 and his last major tournament victories were also about two years old.
Thomas Cup competition, however, brought out the best in these two players. It also brought out the worst in some of Indonesia's fans in Tokyo whose behavior crossed the line from rabid cheering and barracking to outright interference with play. Especially egregious was the deliberate use of flash photography when Danish players were facing their cameras. Ultimately, Denmark's Erland Kops became something of a "goat" losing to both Tan Joe Hok and Ferry Sonneville, despite being 14-6 up in the second game against Sonneville after winning the first. Sonneville also beat All-England champion K. A. Nielsen who was able to gain a split by defeating Tan in three games. With the victory of Indonesia's "secret weapon"
Ang Tjin Siang (later known as 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...
) over Borch, the Indonesians, against form, took four of the five singles matches. Nevertheless, with the brilliant Kobbero and Hammergaard Hansen unbeaten throughout the entire campaign, the Danes still had a chance at 3–4 when Kops and Borch met Tan King Gwan and A. P. Unang in the eighth match of the tie. When the Danes won the first game at 15-12 crowd dissension became so intense that play was delayed for 20 minutes. After it resumed the Indonesians gradually gained control of the match to win it 15-6 in the third. The Cup, once again, had eluded The Danish grasp. An official Danish protest against the result was eventually denied by the International Badminton Federation (now the Badminton World Federation).
| 1964 Thomas Cup Champions |
|---|
 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... Third title |