Indonesia excells in chase for record sixth in Thomas Cup

Novan Iman Santosa, Jakarta

For the Indonesian sporting public, perhaps there is nothing more important than the badminton men's team Thomas Cup championship.

We have taken the cup 13 times, a record five times in a row, from a total of 22 contests over more than 50 years.

Badminton is one of the few international sports that Indonesians can stand proud in, one we consistently dominate and the only sport we have won Olympic gold in so far.

And this year, the Indonesian public is bracing themselves to see whether Sony Dwi Kuncoro can lead his teammates to a record sixth consecutive cup win.

There are only two other countries who have won the coveted cup: Malaysia and China, making the Thomas Cup very much an Asian affair, despite its English origin.

Indonesia has also made history in the women's team Uber Cup championship, being one of four countries who have ever held the trophy. The others are the United States, who won the cup's maiden event in 1957, Japan and China.

Badminton legends such as Tan Joe Hok, Ferry Sonneville and Eddy Jusuf started Indonesia's glorious men's legacy in 1958 by cleaning out cup holder Malaysia 6-3 in Singapore. Malaysia had by then already created the first three-peat.

Malaysia won the Thomas Cup's maiden event in 1949 by defeating Denmark 8-1 at the Queen's Hall in Preston, England. It defended the title in 1952 and 1955.

Indonesia matched Malaysia's three-timer by defending the cup in 1961 and 1964 before losing it 6-3 to Malaysia in 1967 in a final showdown known as the Scheele Affair.

In 1970, Indonesia again reclaimed the cup, defeating arch- rival Malaysia and keeping it in 1973, 1976 and 1979. This was the first time a country had won the cup four times in a row.

Indonesia rewrote the history books again in 2002 by winning the cup for the fifth consecutive time, defeating Malaysia 3-2 in Guangzhou, China. The feat started in 1994 when Indonesia trounced Malaysia 2-0 in Jakarta.

The 1982 event was the last time the event was a triennial affair and a two-day best-of-nine series. From then, the event has been held biennially since 1984 in a best-of-five tournament over a single day.

China reclaimed the cup in 1986 and completed its own three- peat by defending it in 1988 and 1990.

While Indonesia is strong in the men's team, it is the Chinese women's team that achieved the first five-win run in the Uber Cup.

China has won eight times from a total of 17 contests, followed by Japan with five wins and Indonesia and the United States winning three times apiece.

The United States won the first event in 1957, defeating Denmark 6-1 at Lytham St. Annes in Lancashire, England. They created the Uber Cup's first hat-trick.

Japan followed suit in 1966, 1969 and 1972, with two more back-to-back titles in 1978 and 1981.

The women's event was first suggested in 1950, following the success of the men's event and the offer of a trophy from Mrs H.S. Uber.

The format of the women's team championship is similar to the men's event. From 1957 to 1984 it was also a triennial event but with a best-of-seven match format, changing to be identical to the Thomas Cup in 1984.

Indonesia won the Uber Cup for the first time in 1975, ending Japan's dominance. But we had to wait for another 19 years before clinching the cup again in 1994, successfully defending it in 1996.

Realizing their Uber Cup team is weak and inexperienced -- seeded 10th out of 12 participants -- this year's Indonesian women shuttlers have set themselves a tough but worthy target, a place in the semifinals.