1976 Thomas Cup
Encyclopedia
The 1976 Thomas Cup was the 10th edition of Thomas Cup
, the world championship of men's international team badminton
(its female counterpart is the Uber Cup
). The final rounds contested by qualifying teams were held in Bangkok
, Thailand
in late May and early June. First played in 1948-1949
, the Thomas Cup competition was held every three years after that until 1982
and has been held every two years since. For more details on the format of past and present Thomas Cup competition see Wikipedia's general article on the Thomas Cup
.
Indonesia
won its sixth title after beating Malaysia
in the final round.
Australasian zone
Asian zone (exempt from qualifying rounds)
European zone
Panamerican zone
again prevailed in the European zone but only after two tough battles. In the zone semifinal against England
Flemming Delfs
and Elo Hansen
led the way to a 6–3 victory, as Svend Pri
, recovering from injury, was kept out of the doubles. Englishman David Eddy
's unbeaten record in Thomas Cup play for England dating from the 1969-1970 series
was broken in the second set of doubles matches, but only after the outcome of the tie had been determined. In the zone final against Sweden
, which had beaten West Germany
comfortably, Denmark's slightly greater depth enabled it to survive 5–4 in the last match of the tie. Veteran singles star Sture Johnsson
still excelled for Sweden, but its team now depended most on Thomas Kihlstrom
, something of a late bloomer, but fast becoming one of the best all-around players in the world.
Canada
won the Pan American zone by defeating the USA and Mexico , both by 6–3 scores. Against the USA it swept the five singles matches to more than offset a doubles deficit. It was almost the reverse against Mexico, with Canada losing three of the five singles but sweeping the doubles. Notable in the tie between Canada and the USA was the creditable play of a bevy of ultra-veterans: Wayne MacDonnell (who won two singles matches), Channarong Ratanaseangsuang
, and Raphi Kanchanaraphi
, for Canada, all in their mid to late thirties, and 44 year old Jim Poole
for the U.S. In the Canada versus Mexico tie, Mexico's Roy Diaz Gonzalez
, playing in his third Cup series at only 22, remained undefeated in Pan American zone singles
With Iran and Taiwan defaulting opening ties in the Australasian zone, New Zealand
needed only to defeat Australia (9–0; though some matches were close) to advance to the inter-zone playoffs for the second time. It was the fifth campaign for New Zealand's Richard Purser whose Thomas Cup experience dated from the days when Australia had the upper hand between the two.
The Asian zone, usually the most formidable one in the Thomas Cup draw, seemed to offer better odds to dark-horse contenders this time. Indonesia
as defending champion was once again exempt from the qualifying rounds, as was 1973
zone winner Thailand
as host nation to the inter-zone ties. The typically talented Malaysian
and Japanese
squads were each in something of an intergenerational transition. Malaysia's well known players of the late 1960s and early 1970s had all retired and Ippei Kojima
was the last mainstay from Japan's highly competitive teams of 1967
and 1970
. Nonetheless, Japan easily advanced over Hong Kong and South Korea
in the eastern section of the draw. In the western section India
relied on 20 year old Prakash Padukone
's wins in both of his singles and both of his doubles matches to narrowly defeat an improved Pakistan 5–4. In the next round, against a very young and green Malaysian team, three Padukone wins put India on the verge of victory at 4–1. Malaysia, however, won all the remaining matches, the last when Padukone and Asif Parpia were beaten in three games by Cheah Hong Chong and Dominic Soong, to advance to the zone final. There the young Malaysians defeated Japan 6–3, thus helping to assuage the memory of Malaysia's collapse in the zone final against Thailand in 1973
.
The inter-zone ties (team matches) were held in Bangkok, Thailand in late May and early June. 1973
runner-up Denmark
and defending champion Indonesia
received byes and awaited the winners of Malaysia
versus New Zealand
and Canada
versus Thailand
respectively. New Zealand's fate was sealed when it could not break through against the Malaysian singles lineup of Phua Ah Hua, Saw Swee Leong, and James Selvaraj, despite some competitive matches. New Zealand doubles victories, two of them after the tie had been decided, made the final score 6–3. The Purser brothers, Bryan and older brother Richard both played well in defeat for the Kiwis. The contest between Canada and host Thailand was quite lopsided. Though the Canadians had replaced several of its Pan American zone team members with younger players, it had retained the veteran ex-Thais Raphi Kanchanaraphi
and Channarong Ratanaseangsuang
, two heroes of Thailand's run to the Thomas Cup final a full fifteen years earlier. The old Thais could not match the young Thai doubles pairs, though, in extending one match to three games, they performed as well as anyone else on their team. Canada's singles number one Jamie McKee could average only six points a game against Thailand's Bandid Jaiyen
and Surapong Suharitdamrong. Only one of the singles matches was moderately close in a 9–0 Thai victory
The first inter-zone semifinal between Denmark and Malaysia was the shocker of the series. The Danes once again fielded a squad of "name" players (complete with three alternates), though a few were now on the downside of their careers. By contrast the Malaysian team consisted of relative unknowns, though three consecutive hard-fought ties had given them valuable experience. The redoubtable Svend Pri
, now 31, led off for Denmark with a decisive straight games win over Phu Ah Hua. In the next match, however, Flemming Delfs
, less than a year away from capturing the World Singles Championship
in the familiar Scandinavian climate, faltered in the heat and humidity after winning the first game against Saw Swee Leong. Those results set the pattern for the tie; Denmark could win matches that counted only when Pri was on the court. At 4–3 in favor of Malaysia Pri was finally unable to carry partner Steen Skovgaard
to victory against Dominic Soong and Cheah Hong Chong. The jubillant young Malaysians had reached the Thomas Cup final against form, losing an anticlimactic final match to make the score 5–4.
The outcome of the other semifinal was never really in doubt. Though host Thailand had received a bye into the inter-zone matches, it had also received "the short straw" by being placed in the Indonesian half of the draw. The performance of the diminutive but gifted Bandid Jaiyen
, however, did offer some balm for Thailand's wounded pride. He had gained Thailand's only point against Indonesia in the previous Thomas Cup series
, and did so again on the first night of play by fighting back from the brink of a straight games defeat to wear down powerhouse Iie Sumirat
15-5 in the third. Though Jaiyen played creditably on the second night against the iconic Rudy Hartono
, he was beaten at 11 and 7. Surapong Suharitdamrong, the Thai number two, could collect only eleven points in four games against Hartono and Sumirat. The one close doubles match came after Indonesia had already clinched the tie to play in its seventh Thomas Cup final in seven attempts.
weathered close first games against both Phua Ah Hua and Saw Swee Leong before slamming the door against both in the second game. Hartono was never threatened. Malaysia's Dominic Soong and Cheah Hong Chong captured the first game against Tjun Tjun
and Johan Wahjudi
, but this was the extent of the Malaysian challenge. By a nine to zero final tally Indonesia retained the Thomas Cup. It was the first time that the championship round had ended in a shutout.
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 rounds contested by qualifying teams were held in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
in late May and early June. First played 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 Thomas Cup competition was held every three years after that 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 since. For more details on the format of past and present 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 sixth title after beating Malaysia
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...
in the final round.
Teams
26 teams from 4 regions took part in the competition. As defending champion, Indonesia skipped the qualifications and played directly in the second round of the inter-zone ties (team matches), effectively the semifinals of the tournament. As host nation to the inter-zone phase of the tournament, Thailand was exempt from qualifications and played directly in the first round of the inter-zone ties.Australasian zone
- (exempt from qualifying rounds)
Asian zone (exempt from qualifying rounds)
European zone
Panamerican zone
Qualification (Intra-zone) summary
DenmarkDenmark 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 prevailed in the European zone but only after two tough battles. In the zone semifinal against 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...
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:...
and 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:...
led the way to a 6–3 victory, as 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...
, recovering from injury, was kept out of the doubles. Englishman David Eddy
David Eddy
David Eddy is a retired badminton player from England who won national and international titles from the late 1960s to the early 1980s.-Career:...
's unbeaten record in Thomas Cup play for England dating from the 1969-1970 series
1970 Thomas Cup
The 1970 Thomas Cup was the 8th tournament of Thomas Cup, the most important men's badminton team competition in the world. The final set of ties were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia....
was broken in the second set of doubles matches, but only after the outcome of the tie had been determined. In the zone final against Sweden
Sweden national badminton team
The Sweden national badminton team represents Sweden in international badminton team competitions.-Participation in BWF competitions:Thomas Cup *1984 - 7th / 8th*1986 - 7th / 8th*1988 - 7th / 8th*1990 - 7th / 8th*1992 - 5th / 6th...
, which had beaten West Germany
Germany national badminton team
The Germany national badminton team represents Germany in international badminton team competitions.-Participation in BWF competitions:Thomas Cup*2004 - 5th/8thUber Cup*2006 - Semi-finalist*2008 - Semi-finalistSudirman Cup*1989 - 17th...
comfortably, Denmark's slightly greater depth enabled it to survive 5–4 in the last match of the tie. Veteran singles star Sture Johnsson
Sture Johnsson
Sture Johnsson is a retired badminton player from Sweden who won numerous Swedish national and international men's singles titles. His game was characterized by impressive mobility and a powerful overhead smash.-Career:...
still excelled for Sweden, but its team now depended most on Thomas Kihlstrom
Thomas Kihlström
Thomas Kihlström is a former badminton player from Sweden known for his agility, tactical astuteness, and coolness under pressure. Though an impressive singles player early in his career, his greatest successes came in doubles....
, something of a late bloomer, but fast becoming one of the best all-around players in the world.
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...
won the Pan American zone by defeating the USA and Mexico , both by 6–3 scores. Against the USA it swept the five singles matches to more than offset a doubles deficit. It was almost the reverse against Mexico, with Canada losing three of the five singles but sweeping the doubles. Notable in the tie between Canada and the USA was the creditable play of a bevy of ultra-veterans: Wayne MacDonnell (who won two singles matches), 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...
, for Canada, all in their mid to late thirties, and 44 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:...
for the U.S. In the Canada versus Mexico tie, Mexico's 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...
, playing in his third Cup series at only 22, remained undefeated in Pan American zone singles
With Iran and Taiwan defaulting opening ties in the Australasian zone, 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...
needed only to defeat Australia (9–0; though some matches were close) to advance to the inter-zone playoffs for the second time. It was the fifth campaign for New Zealand's Richard Purser whose Thomas Cup experience dated from the days when Australia had the upper hand between the two.
The Asian zone, usually the most formidable one in the Thomas Cup draw, seemed to offer better odds to dark-horse contenders this time. 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...
as defending champion was once again exempt from the qualifying rounds, as was 1973
1973 Thomas Cup
The 1973 Thomas Cup was the 9th edition of the Thomas Cup, the world championship of men's international team badminton . The final set of ties involving regional zone winners and the defending champion nation were held in Jakarta, Indonesia in late May and early June 1973...
zone winner 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...
as host nation to the inter-zone ties. The typically talented Malaysian
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...
and Japanese
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...
squads were each in something of an intergenerational transition. Malaysia's well known players of the late 1960s and early 1970s had all retired and Ippei Kojima
Ippei Kojima
Ippei Kojima is a former Japanese badminton player who won a record eight Japanese national men's singles titles and some major international titles between the mid 1960s and the mid 1970s. His game was marked by exceptional foot speed, great tenacity, and power surprising for a man who was about...
was the last mainstay from Japan's highly competitive teams of 1967
1967 Thomas Cup
The 1967 Thomas Cup was the 7th tournament of Thomas Cup, the most important men's badminton team competition in the world. The inter-zone matches and Challenge Round finale were held in Jakarta, Indonesia....
and 1970
1970 Thomas Cup
The 1970 Thomas Cup was the 8th tournament of Thomas Cup, the most important men's badminton team competition in the world. The final set of ties were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia....
. Nonetheless, Japan easily advanced over Hong Kong and South Korea
Korea national badminton team
The Korea national badminton team represents South Korea in international badminton team competitions.-Participation in BWF competitions:Thomas Cup *1984 - Fourth place*1992 - Semi-finalist*1996 - Semi-finalist*2000 - Semi-finalist*2004 - Semi-finalist...
in the eastern section of the draw. In the western section 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:...
relied on 20 year old 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...
's wins in both of his singles and both of his doubles matches to narrowly defeat an improved Pakistan 5–4. In the next round, against a very young and green Malaysian team, three Padukone wins put India on the verge of victory at 4–1. Malaysia, however, won all the remaining matches, the last when Padukone and Asif Parpia were beaten in three games by Cheah Hong Chong and Dominic Soong, to advance to the zone final. There the young Malaysians defeated Japan 6–3, thus helping to assuage the memory of Malaysia's collapse in the zone final against Thailand in 1973
1973 Thomas Cup
The 1973 Thomas Cup was the 9th edition of the Thomas Cup, the world championship of men's international team badminton . The final set of ties involving regional zone winners and the defending champion nation were held in Jakarta, Indonesia in late May and early June 1973...
.
First round
| 6–3 | ||
| 9–0 | ||
| bye | ||
| bye |
Second round
| 5–4 | ||
| 8–1 |
The inter-zone ties (team matches) were held in Bangkok, Thailand in late May and early June. 1973
1973 Thomas Cup
The 1973 Thomas Cup was the 9th edition of the Thomas Cup, the world championship of men's international team badminton . The final set of ties involving regional zone winners and the defending champion nation were held in Jakarta, Indonesia in late May and early June 1973...
runner-up 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...
and 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...
received byes and awaited the winners of Malaysia
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...
versus 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...
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...
versus 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...
respectively. New Zealand's fate was sealed when it could not break through against the Malaysian singles lineup of Phua Ah Hua, Saw Swee Leong, and James Selvaraj, despite some competitive matches. New Zealand doubles victories, two of them after the tie had been decided, made the final score 6–3. The Purser brothers, Bryan and older brother Richard both played well in defeat for the Kiwis. The contest between Canada and host Thailand was quite lopsided. Though the Canadians had replaced several of its Pan American zone team members with younger players, it had retained the veteran 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...
, two heroes of Thailand's run to the Thomas Cup final a full fifteen years earlier. The old Thais could not match the young Thai doubles pairs, though, in extending one match to three games, they performed as well as anyone else on their team. Canada's singles number one Jamie McKee could average only six points a game against Thailand's 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...
and Surapong Suharitdamrong. Only one of the singles matches was moderately close in a 9–0 Thai victory
The first inter-zone semifinal between Denmark and Malaysia was the shocker of the series. The Danes once again fielded a squad of "name" players (complete with three alternates), though a few were now on the downside of their careers. By contrast the Malaysian team consisted of relative unknowns, though three consecutive hard-fought ties had given them valuable experience. The redoubtable 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...
, now 31, led off for Denmark with a decisive straight games win over Phu Ah Hua. In the next match, however, 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:...
, less than a year away from capturing the World Singles Championship
BWF World Championships
The BWF World Championships is a tournament organized by the Badminton World Federation to crown the best badminton players in the world....
in the familiar Scandinavian climate, faltered in the heat and humidity after winning the first game against Saw Swee Leong. Those results set the pattern for the tie; Denmark could win matches that counted only when Pri was on the court. At 4–3 in favor of Malaysia Pri was finally unable to carry partner Steen Skovgaard
Steen Skovgaard
Steen Skovgaard is a retired male badminton player from Denmark who specialized in the doubles events and won national and international titles from the mid 1970s through the early 1980s.He played for the Gentofte BK.-Career:...
to victory against Dominic Soong and Cheah Hong Chong. The jubillant young Malaysians had reached the Thomas Cup final against form, losing an anticlimactic final match to make the score 5–4.
The outcome of the other semifinal was never really in doubt. Though host Thailand had received a bye into the inter-zone matches, it had also received "the short straw" by being placed in the Indonesian half of the draw. The performance of the diminutive but gifted 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...
, however, did offer some balm for Thailand's wounded pride. He had gained Thailand's only point against Indonesia in the previous Thomas Cup series
1973 Thomas Cup
The 1973 Thomas Cup was the 9th edition of the Thomas Cup, the world championship of men's international team badminton . The final set of ties involving regional zone winners and the defending champion nation were held in Jakarta, Indonesia in late May and early June 1973...
, and did so again on the first night of play by fighting back from the brink of a straight games defeat to wear down powerhouse Iie Sumirat
Iie Sumirat
Iie Sumirat is a former badminton player from Indonesia.-Career:Sumirat was one of Indonesia's leading singles players during the 1970s, when it dominated men's international competition while China was still absent from IBF sanctioned play...
15-5 in the third. Though Jaiyen played creditably on the second night against the iconic 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...
, he was beaten at 11 and 7. Surapong Suharitdamrong, the Thai number two, could collect only eleven points in four games against Hartono and Sumirat. The one close doubles match came after Indonesia had already clinched the tie to play in its seventh Thomas Cup final in seven attempts.
Final round
In reaching the 1976 Thomas Cup final a young Malaysian team had done what vastly more experienced and accomplished Malaysian team members had failed to do in 1973. Their fine run, however, came to an abrupt end against juggernaut Indonesia in perhaps the most one-sided championship tie in Thomas Cup history. Replacing Sumirat in one of the top singles positions for Indonesia, rising star Liem Swie KingLiem Swie King
Liem Swie King is a former Indonesian badminton player who excelled from the late 1970s through the mid 1980s. Along with Morten Frost , Han Jian and Luan Jin , and Prakash Padukone , he was one of the world's leading singles players of that era...
weathered close first games against both Phua Ah Hua and Saw Swee Leong before slamming the door against both in the second game. Hartono was never threatened. Malaysia's Dominic Soong and Cheah Hong Chong captured the first game against 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...
and Johan Wahjudi
Johan Wahjudi
-Career:Wahjudi and Tjun won men's doubles in the IBF's first World Championships in 1977.They also won 6 All England Open Badminton Championships between 1974 and 1980 during which time their losses were rare and they were clearly the world's number one team...
, but this was the extent of the Malaysian challenge. By a nine to zero final tally Indonesia retained the Thomas Cup. It was the first time that the championship round had ended in a shutout.
| 1976 Thomas Cup Champions |
|---|
| Sixth title |