Badminton World Federation(BWF) announced draw for TOTAL BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2018 to be held in Bangkok from May 20 to 27. Both India men’s and women’s teams have been placed in Group A in both Thomas Cup as well as Uber Cup. The draw was completed in Bangkok on March 22.
While Indian women’s team has been clubbed with five-time champions Japan, Canada and Australia in the Uber Cup, the men’s team has been placed alongside nine-time winners China, France and Australia in the Group A of Thomas Cup.
India is seeded 5/8th in both the events.
DS predictions: India are expected to clear the first hurdle in both the events and enter the knockout stage. In Uber Cup, India are the second best team in the group after Japan and are expected to register a comfortable win over Canada and Australia. On the other hand, in Thomas Cup, India are again the second best after China, they are again expected to triumph against France and Australia.
The top two teams in each group at the end of the group stage will make it to the knock-out round.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s men and France’s women qualified for the prestigious event due to the withdrawal of England and Spain respectively.
Indian men’s team, led by Kidambi Srikanth, had lost 1-3 in the quarter-finals to China, while PV Sindhu-led Indian women’s side suffered a 1-3 defeat to Indonesia in the last eight at last month’s Badminton Asia Team Championships, which was also the qualifier for Thomas and Uber Cup. However, despite the losses Indian teams qualified for the event based on their rankings.
In History
Uber Cup or World Team Championships for Women: Indian womens have reached the semi finals of Uber Cup in 2016 and 2014 edition of the event. They lost to Japan in 2016 and Korea in 2014. Defending champions China is the most successful team in the tournament with 14 titles.
Thomas Cup or World Men’s Team Championships: The mens team has managed to reach the quarter final in 2006 and 2010 edition of the event. They suffered a setback in group stage of the 2016 edition, loosing all their three group stage matches to Thailand, Indonesia and Hong Kong. Denmark is the defending champions and Indonesia is the most successful team with 13 titles.
Draw for TOTAL BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2018
Group A: China, India, France, Australia
Group B: Indonesia, Korea, Canada, Thailand
Group C: Chinese Taipei, Japan, Germany, Hong Kong
Group D: Denmark, Malaysia, Russia, Algeria
Uber Cup:
Group A: Japan, India, Canada, Australia
Group B: Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Germany, Hong Kong
Group C: Korea, Denmark, Russia, Mauritius
Group D: China, Indonesia, France, Malaysia
