The 1961 Thomas Cup competition is an international team tournament for supremacy in men's badminton (Its female counterpart is the Uber Cup). Beginning in 1948–49 it was held every three years until 1982 and thereafter every two years. Nineteen teams, eighteen of them starting from four regional qualifying zones, Asia, Australasia, Europe, and Pan America, contested for the Thomas Cup during the 1960-1961 seasons. Zone winners then played-off in Jakarta, Indonesia for the right to face defending champion Indonesia (exempt from all earlier ties), in a conclusive challenge round. For a more detailed description of the Thomas Cup format, see Wikipedia's general article on the Thomas Cup.
This was the first international multi-sport event hosted by Indonesia, who was only 15 years old at the time. The venue was the Istora Gelora Bung Karno, which was only opened on 11 days before the tournament.
Qualification
Means of qualificationDateVenueSlotQualified teams1958 Thomas Cup5 – 15 June 1958Singapore1Asian Zone30 July 1961 – 29 March 1961BangkokHong KongLahore1American Zone24 – 25 February 1961Toronto1European Zone14 November 1961 – 12 March 1961GreenockDerryParisSouthend-on-SeaStockholmTrollhättan1Australasian Zone22 – 23 July 1961FeildingMelbourne1Total5
Despite missing its known singles player, Charoen Wattanasin, Thailand again prevailed in the Asian zone by beating India (6–3), three-time former champion Malaya (7–2), and Pakistan (8–1). Of note in these ties, Nandu Natekar had a hand in all of the individual matches which India salvaged, while Malaya's Eddie Choong, well past his prime at a fairly young age, was beaten in both of his singles. No player on Thailand's team was more than twenty-four years old.
For the second straight time Japan defaulted an Australasian zone tie, this time allowing Australia, led by Kenneth Turner, to advance to the inter-zone phase after its 8–1 victory over New Zealand. Star-studded Denmark coasted through three ties in the European zone, shutting out its usual victim England in the zone final. The same two-way American zone race ended as before with the United States beating Canada 7–2. Evergreen Joe Alston and Wynn Rogers still led the way in doubles for the USA which also had a small but competent cadre of international level singles players.
Squads
Knockout stage
The following teams, shown by region, qualified for the 1961 Thomas Cup. Defending champion and host Indonesia automatically qualified to defend their title.
Bracket
First round
Second round
Final
References tangkis.tripod.com Mike's Badminton Populorum Herbert Scheele, The International Badminton Federation Handbook for 1967 (Canterbury, Kent, England: J. A. Jennings Ltd., 1967) 82. Pat Davis, The Guinness Book of Badminton (Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlative Ltd., 1983). 122.