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Thomas Cup Legends

The Thomas Cup has its own share of legends over the years, in which the best shuttlers showed their stuff in badminton’s own rendition of tennis’ Davis Cup. 

Here are five that are deemed to be the best of the lot. 

Lin Dan (China) 

Badminton’s GOAT won a record six Thomas Cups for China as part of their five-peat from 2004 to 2012, and again in 2018. 

Taufik Hidayat (Indonesia) 

The spitfire smasher is known for his powerful backhand, in which he won two Thomas Cups in 2000 and 2002 at the tail end of Indonesia’s own five-peat. 

Rudy Hartono (Indonesia) 

Indonesia’s sweep of the 1970s was led by Rudy Hartono, who can be considered the greatest of his generation after leading his country to four successive Thomas Cups.  

Hariyanto Arbi (Indonesia) 

Like Rudy Hartono, Hariyanto Arbi also won four consecutive Thomas Cups for Indonesia from 1994 to 2000. 

Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng (China) 

Lin Dan had company in China’s five straight in 2004-2012, as he was accompanied by the duo of Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng, who were nearly unstoppable in men’s doubles.