Chengdu 2024 will mark the fourth time China are hosting the BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals.

These are the Thomas Cup winners the previous three times.

Guangzhou 2002
Indonesia 3-2 Malaysia

To make history as the first nation to win five straight Thomas Cups, Indonesia had to twice come from behind in the final. Malaysia had taken the lead when Wong Choon Hann beat Marleve Mainaky but Indonesia responded through Sigit Budiarto/Candra Wijaya, who overcame Chew Choon Eng/Chan Chong Ming 7-3 7-4 7-2. Favourite Taufik Hidayat then suffered a surprise defeat to Lee Tsuen Eng but was bailed out by scratch pair Halim Haryanto/Tri Kusharjanto’s success over Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah. Men’s singles star Hendrawan, plagued by injuries in the lead-up, then delivered the championship point with an 8-7 7-2 7-1 win over Roslin Hashim. A teary Hendrawan said: “I’m not a hero or the best Indonesian player. But I was able to play in the Thomas Cup because of the support from my teammates and the management.”

Trivia: Guangzhou 2002 remains the only Thomas & Uber Cup Finals to use the 7×5 scoring system.

Wuhan 2012
China 3-0 Korea

China matched Indonesia’s record of winning five consecutive editions with an emphatic final victory. Superstar Lin Dan gave the hosts a perfect start with the 21-14 21-17 takedown of Lee Hyun-Il. Cai Yu/Fu Hai Feng and Chen Long’s straight games wins handed China their ninth Thomas Cup, and only triumph on home soil. Coach Li Yongbo said post-final: “In two years, if we win another one, then that will be success. Chasing a record and surpassing one are two different things.” China would fall 3-0 in the semis to eventual winners Japan at New Delhi 2014.

Trivia: China did not drop a single match en route to the trophy.

Kunshan 2016
Denmark 3-2 Indonesia

After heartbreaks in eight finals, Denmark finally got over the line thanks to the performances of their singles players in the final. Third singles Hans-Kristian Vittinghus was the hero, using his experience to see off Ihsan Maulana Mustofa 21-15 21-7 in the deciding match following earlier wins by Viktor Axelsen over Tommy Sugiarto and Jan O Jorgensen against a young Anthony Sinisuka Ginting. Indonesia’s points were contributed by Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan and Angga Pratama/Ricky Karanda Suwardi. With the result, Denmark became the first European nation and fifth overall to be champions.

Trivia: Denmark won their last four matches of the tournament by the same scoreline (3-2) – against Chinese Taipei in Group D, Japan in quarterfinals, Malaysia in semifinals and China in final.