Two "Red and White" Teams in the Final, Have a Chance to Match the Titles of Thomas and Uber

In the semi-final session of the Uber Cup, the host team will appear in the final for the 20th time in the last 21 editions after winning three consecutive matches against Japan. However, just like China, Japan has equal strength in both single and double categories.

Also read: Waiting for the Blessings of the "Underdog" Uber Indonesia Team in the Top Party

In the final competition, the strength of China's elite players will be tested by Gregoria Mariska Tunjung and friends as underdogs. The Indonesian women continued their surprise by eliminating defending champion South Korea, 3-2, after winning 3-0 over Thailand in the quarter-finals. Together with China and Japan, South Korea and Thailand have always been part of the four best teams in the 2018, 2020 and 2022 Uber Cup.

The men's team's victory over Taiwan has qualified Indonesia for the Thomas Cup final for the fourth time in the last five editions. They became champions in 2020, but lost to Denmark in 2016 and India in 2022.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Uber Cup team last appeared in the final match in 2008 in Jakarta. At that time, Indonesia was reinforced by players such as Maria Kristin Yulianti, Adriyanti Firdasari, Vita Marissa, Liliyana Natsir, and Greysia Polii under the management of Susy Susanti and Elizabeth Latief as the team manager.

However, the last moment of the arrival of the men's and women's teams in the final in the same year happened even longer ago, in 1998 in Hong Kong. At that time, Ricky Soebagdja (Indonesia's Team Manager at the 2024 Thomas Uber Cup), Hariyanto Arbi, Susy, Mia Audina, and all team members brought the country's name when there was rioting in Indonesia in May 1998. The men's team emerged as champions after defeating Malaysia 3-2, while the women's team lost to China 1-4.

Of course, I am very grateful to be able to return to the final for the third time in a row. Tomorrow will be the fourth Thomas Cup final for me. Thanks to God, we never imagined it because we came with a squad that is quite different from the previous editions.

Indonesia has the chance to add 14 Thomas Cup championship titles after stopping the surprise from Taiwan. Since qualifying for the Thomas Cup final round in 2014, this is the first time Taiwan has reached the semifinals. Previously, their best achievement was reaching the quarterfinals in 2016.

Also read: Eliminating Defending Champion South Korea, Indonesian Women's Team to Uber Cup Final After 2008

Apart from Chou Tien Chen, men's singles who broke into the world's top 10 for the first time in 2015, Taiwan's men's badminton is getting stronger with the birth of several men's doubles pairs, one of which is Lee Yang/Wang Chi Lin. They dominated the competition in 2021, including winning the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which was postponed a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Taiwan also came as a surprise when they eliminated Denmark, who was strengthened by the top ranked and fourth in the world men's singles, Viktor Axelsen and Anders Antonsen, in the quarterfinals in Chengdu. Taiwan won 3-1, partly thanks to Chou's victory over Axelsen after he had lost nine out of the last ten meetings.

Chou's performance was hindered by Anthony as they competed for the 16th time. One of Chou's six previous defeats was experienced in the group stage of the 2020 Thomas Cup in Aarhus, Denmark. That was the only encounter between Indonesia and Taiwan before competing in Chengdu.

Anthony consistently played aggressively until Chou was able to take the lead in the early to mid-second game. Chou led by the farthest margin of five points, 10-5, but Anthony was able to catch up until the Indonesian player, ranked seventh in the world, took the lead from a position of 17-16. Anthony then won with a score of 21-18, 21-19.

Also read: Indonesian Thomas and Uber Cup Teams Qualify Together for the Semifinals

After that, Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto overcame Lee/Wang's tough challenge as had always happened in the previous eight meetings. Fajar/Rian put Indonesia ahead with a 16-21, 21-19, 21-18 win.

The Red and White Team finally qualified for the final with three consecutive wins after Jonatan Christie beat Wang Tzu Wei 21-11, 21-16. This victory avenged Jonathan's defeat in his last meeting with Wang in the first round of the French Open in March.

The moment in France was part of Jonatan's poor results in the first four tournaments of 2024 after being eliminated in the first round of the Malaysia Open and Indonesia Masters, and the second round of the India Open. After that, the 26-year-old player remained unbeaten in 15 consecutive matches. 10 victories resulted in the All England and Asia Championships titles, while five other victories also helped Indonesia reach the Thomas Cup final.

"I am certainly very grateful to be able to return to the final for the third consecutive time. Tomorrow will be my fourth Thomas Cup final. Thanks to God, we never imagined it because we came with a squad that is quite different from the previous editions," commented Jonatan, who was part of the Indonesian team in the 2016, 2020, and 2022 finals.

The Thomas Cup title for Jonatan and several other male players from Aarhus 2020 could increase if they can overcome the multiple challenges from China. The home team has evenly distributed strength in singles and doubles, including the presence of Shi Yu Qi, Li Shi Feng, and Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang. They will also receive support from almost all spectators at the stadium.

The final match, which took place on Sunday (5/5/2024) at 4:00 PM, will be the 18th meeting between the two countries since China joined the Thomas Cup in 1982. Both countries are the most successful in winning the Thomas Cup, with Indonesia having won 14 titles and China becoming a champion 10 times.

In the previous 17 meetings, both teams have competed closely with China leading 9-8. Nevertheless, Indonesia has won the last two meetings, namely the final in Aarhus 2020 and the quarter-finals in Bangkok 2022.