1996 Thomas Cup

1996 Thomas Cup

The 1996 Thomas & Uber Cup was a major international badminton tournament held in Indonesia. It was the 19th tournament of the Thomas Cup and the 16th tournament of the Uber Cup. The tournament was held to determine the best teams in the world of badminton, and it attracted top players from all over the globe.

The press conference for the 1996 Thomas Cup was held in the Bank Rakyat Indonesia's building in Sentra BRI complex in Sudirman, Central Jakarta. The press conference was led by Putera Sampoerna, the chairman of PT HM Sampoerna Tbk, which is the manufacturer of A Mild, the fifth largest cigarette brand in Indonesia. A Mild was also the main sponsor of the 1996 TUC, and as such, Putera Sampoerna played a significant role in the organization of the tournament.

The opening and closing ceremony of the 1996 TUC were also led by Putera Sampoerna, as A Mild was the main sponsor of the tournament. The ceremonies were grand affairs, with dazzling displays of fireworks and cultural performances.

The Indonesian Thomas & Uber Cup Squads were the reigning champions in both the Thomas Cup and the Uber Cup, having won the titles for the third time. The squads were united in their quest for victory, and they were determined to defend their titles against tough competition from the world's best badminton players.

Overall, the 1996 Thomas & Uber Cup was a highly anticipated event in the world of badminton, and it showcased some of the best players in the sport. The tournament was a great success, thanks in large part to the efforts of Putera Sampoerna and the other organizers who worked tirelessly to make it a memorable event for all involved.

Indonesia's Thomas Cup team consisted of some of the best players in the world at the time, including Joko Suprianto, Hermawan Susanto, and Rexy Mainaky. The team was led by the legendary coach, Liem Swie King, who had previously led Indonesia to Thomas Cup victories in 1978 and 1980.

In the final of the Thomas Cup, Indonesia faced the formidable Korean team, who had won the Cup in 1992. The final was held in Hong Kong, and was a tense and closely contested affair. Indonesia took an early lead, winning the first two singles matches, but Korea fought back to level the scores at 2-2. The deciding match was the second doubles, which pitted the Indonesian pairing of Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky against Korea's Ha Tae-kwon and Kang Kyung-jin. In a thrilling match that lasted over an hour, Subagja and Mainaky prevailed, winning 15-8, 12-15, 15-12, to secure Indonesia's third Thomas Cup title.

The Indonesian Uber Cup team was also strong, featuring players such as Susi Susanti, Mia Audina, and Finarsih. They faced the tough Chinese team in the final, who were the defending champions. The final was held in Hong Kong, and was another closely fought contest. China took an early lead, winning the first singles match, but Indonesia fought back to level the scores at 1-1. The deciding match was the second singles, which pitted Susi Susanti against China's Tang Yongshu. In a tense match, Susanti prevailed, winning 11-8, 11-9, to secure Indonesia's third Uber Cup title.

The victories of both the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup teams were celebrated widely in Indonesia, and the players and coach Liem Swie King were hailed as national heroes. The 1996 TUC was a major milestone for Indonesian badminton, and helped to cement the country's reputation as a dominant force in world badminton.