1961 Thomas Cup knockout stage

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The knockout stage for the 1961 Thomas Cup began on 1 June 1961 with the first-round knockout and ended on 11 June with the final tie.

Qualified teams[edit]

The teams that won their zonal tie qualified for the final knockout stage.

Group Winners
CH  Indonesia
AS  Thailand
AM  United States
AU  Australia
EU  Denmark

Bracket[edit]

 
First roundSecond roundChallenge round
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Indonesia
 
 
 
Bye
 
 Indonesia
 
 
 
Bye
 
 
 
10 June 1961 – Jakarta
 
 
 
 Indonesia6
 
1 June 1958 – Jakarta
 
 Thailand3
 
 Australia0
 
6 June 1961 – Jakarta
 
 Thailand9
 
 Thailand7
 
3 June 1958 – Jakarta
 
 Denmark2
 
 United States2
 
 
 Denmark7
 

First round[edit]

The inter-zone playoffs in Jakarta began on the first two days of June with Thailand beating Australia without the loss of a match or a game. Denmark then defeated the USA 7–2, but even in victory Danish problems with the heat and humidity were evident as players hailed by some as the best in the world often struggled against less talented opponents who, as Californians, were more accustomed to hot gymnasiums.

Thailand vs Australia[edit]

Denmark vs United States[edit]

Second round[edit]

Denmark vs Thailand[edit]

The Danes' contest against Thailand fully demonstrated this weakness. A team entirely composed of either past, present, or future All-England champions was decisively beaten by a team composed of players who would never win that individual honor. Erland Kops and Finn Kobbero defeated the Thai number two Somsook Boonyasukhanonda comfortably, but both were beaten by young Channarong Ratanaseangsuang. Most shockingly, the famous doubles team of Kobbero and Hammergaard Hansen was beaten by both Thai pairs who swept all four doubles matches. Thus Thailand completed its run to the challenge round with an impressive 7–2 victory over Denmark.

Challenge round[edit]

Indonesia vs Thailand[edit]

The task of beating a strong Indonesian team in Jakarta's Senayan Stadium was possibly rendered even more difficult for Thailand when "neutral" officials and linesmen failed to arrive from Malaya. As they had done three years earlier in Singapore, the Indonesians swept all five singles matches. Ratanaseangsuang was unable to produce the consistency he had displayed against Kops and Kobbero and lost tamely to Indonesia's Tan Joe Hok and Ferry Sonneville. Boonyasukhanonda was simply not in the class of the two Indonesians, whose careers would be hallmarked by their Thomas Cup brilliance. The Thai doubles pairs played quite well, particularly the team of Narong Bhornchima and Raphi Kanchanaraphi who won both of their matches. Doubles victories were not enough, however, as Indonesia retained the Cup 6–3.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Thais get off to a flying start in Thomas Cup battle". The Singapore Free Press. 2 June 1961. p. 12. Retrieved 22 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  2. ^ "Thais make clean sweep...now for tne winners of Denmark-American battle". The Singapore Free Press. 3 June 1961. p. 22. Retrieved 22 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  3. ^ "Danes take 4-nil lead v US". The Singapore Free Press. 4 June 1961. p. 20. Retrieved 22 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  4. ^ "DENMARK DROP 2 MATCHES BUT WIN 7-2: NOW FOR THAIS". The Singapore Free Press. 5 June 1961. p. 12. Retrieved 22 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  5. ^ "THAIS IN 3-1 LEAD v DENMARK". The Straits Times. 7 June 1961. p. 16. Retrieved 22 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. ^ "THAILAND BEAT DANES 7-2". The Straits Times. 8 June 1961. p. 16. Retrieved 22 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. ^ "Thomas Cup stays in Indonesia". The Straits Times. 12 June 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 22 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  8. ^ "Indonesia retain Thomas Cup". The Straits Times. 12 June 1961. p. 14. Retrieved 22 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.