Kingdom ready to host Cup events
>> Thailand is ready to host the 2018 BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals with 32 teams confirming their places in the tournaments.
The biennial competition, to be held in Thailand for the first time, will take place from May 20-27 at Impact Area, Muang Thong Thani.
All the 32 teams have earned their places at the end of last month.
Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, president of the Badminton Association of Thailand, said that the BAT is ready and looking forward to welcoming all the participants to the prestigious tournament, the first Thomas & Uber Cup events to be staged in Southeast Asia since 2010 in Malaysia.
Tickets have been on sale since March 9 and it has received good response from the fans.
Fifteen teams to join host Thailand in the 30th Thomas Cup (men’s team championship) are defending champions Denmark, nine-time winners China, Australia, 13-time winners Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, England, France, Germany, Algeria, Canada, Taiwan, India, Japan and Russia.
Thailand’s best result was a runners-up spot in 1961.
In the 27th Uber Cup (women’s team championship), defending champions China, who will be looking for their 15th title, and hosts Thailand were automatically assured of spots.
Joining them are Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Germany, Russia, Spain, Mauritius, Australia, Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India and Malaysia. The best performance for Thailand was joint third in 2012.
The draw will be held on March 22 at Arnoma Grand Hotel Bangkok followed by a press conference at the same venue on May 6.
In another development, Khunying Patama, also an IOC member, presented certificates to juvenile offenders, who finished a training programme for badminton umpires and line judges.
Twenty-four participants were from the Baan Karuna Juvenile Vocational Training Center. The project “Young Badminton Way of Change”, initiated by HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha, aims to give them a career opportunity and rejoin society after leaving prison.