Denmark wins first Thomas Cup badminton tournament

Denmark on 22 May 2016 won the 2016 Thomas Cup badminton tournament. In the final match played at Kunshan, China, the Danish team defeated Indonesia 3-2.

In the fifth and final set, Danish Hans-Kristian Vittinghus defeated Indonesian Ihsan Maulana Mustofa in two straight games 21-16 and 21-7.

Ending a 67-year wait, this was Denmark’s first ever win in the international tournament. Earlier, it had finished runner-up at the men’s international team tournament.

Denmark is also the first European nation to win the Thomas Cup.

Denmark’s victory also erased Indonesia’s hopes of winning its first Thomas Cup title in 14 years. Last time Indonesia won the title in 2002.

The final was Indonesia and Denmark's fifth meeting in the Thomas Cup final, with Indonesia having won on all previous occasions, in 1964, 1973, 1979 and 1996. Despite its loss in 2016, Indonesia with 13 titles managed to remain the country with maximum Thomas Cup titles.  

Indonesia won the tournament in 1958, 1961, 1964, 1970, 1973, 1976, 1979, 1984, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2002.

Host China, which is home to some of the world's best men's badminton players, stumbled out of the tournament after a shocking 3-1 upset to South Korea in the quarter-finals.

On the other hand, Uber Cup (Women’s World Team Championships) was won by China. In the final, China defeated South Korea 3-1. This was China’s 14th Uber title. Indian women's team won bronze title at the Championship.

Thomas Cup

The Thomas Cup also known as Men’s World Team Championships is an international badminton competition.
It was first staged in 1948-49, and the Uber Cup or Women’s World Team Championships was added for the first time in 1956-7.

Thomas Cup, taking place every three years, was the BWF’s first major international tournament.
The idea for the competition and the donation of the trophy was by the first President of the World body, Sir George Thomas, legendary player (21 All England titles) and administrator of the Sport.

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