May 15, 1998 CE
Tournament Opens in Hong Kong
The 20th Thomas Cup finals tournament began in Hong Kong, featuring twelve teams divided into two groups competing over ten days for the world men's team badminton championship.
Chronological Storyline (7 Milestones)
May 17, 1998 CE
Group Stage Action Heats Up
In Group A, Indonesia and Denmark advanced through the round-robin stage, while in Group B, Malaysia and China progressed to the knockout phase, setting up semifinal matchups between traditional badminton powers.
May 22, 1998 CE
Malaysia Edges China in Semifinal
Malaysia overcame China in a tight semifinal to advance to the final, setting up an all-Southeast Asian showdown against defending champions Indonesia.
May 22, 1998 CE
Indonesia Reaches Final
Indonesia defeated Denmark in the semifinals to secure a place in the final, relying on the strength of their singles lineup including Hendrawan and Budi Santoso.
May 24, 1998 CE
Indonesia Retains the Thomas Cup
Indonesia defeated Malaysia 3-2 to win the 1998 Thomas Cup, retaining the title they had held since 1994 and reinforcing their status as the dominant force in men's team badminton during the late 1990s.
May 24, 1998 CE
Decisive Doubles Victory
Indonesia's doubles pairings proved crucial in the final, with the world-class Indonesian doubles tradition once again making the difference in a tight 3-2 outcome against a resilient Malaysian side.
May 24, 1998 CE
The Final: Indonesia vs Malaysia
The final was contested between Indonesia and Malaysia at the Hong Kong Coliseum, with the tie coming down to the final matches after the teams traded wins in singles and doubles.