The 1998 Uber Cup was the 17th edition of the Uber Cup, the premier women's international team badminton championship. Held in Hong Kong from May 15–24, 1998, Indonesia won their first-ever Uber Cup title by defeating defending champions China 3–2 in a dramatic final.
The 17th edition of the Uber Cup commenced in Hong Kong, with twelve teams competing across two groups in the round-robin group stage. The tournament featured powerhouse nations including defending champions China, Indonesia, Denmark, Japan, and South Korea.
Defending champions China topped Group A with a perfect record, winning all their group-stage ties convincingly. China's squad, featuring world-class players like Gong Zhichao and Dai Yun, swept past opponents including Sweden and Malaysia without dropping a tie.
Indonesia finished atop Group B, winning all their group-stage ties. Led by star singles players Mia Audina and Tammy Tam, Indonesia demonstrated strong form heading into the knockout rounds, defeating teams including Denmark and Japan.
The semifinal matchups were determined with China facing South Korea and Indonesia facing Denmark. Both semifinals took place on May 22, 1998, with China and Indonesia each winning their respective ties to advance to the final.
Indonesia defeated Denmark in the semifinals to reach the Uber Cup final for the first time since 1986. The Indonesian team, anchored by Mia Audina in singles and the doubles pair of Eliza Nathanael and Resiana Zelin, proved too strong for the Danish side.
Indonesia defeated defending champions China 3–2 in a thrilling final in Hong Kong to claim their first-ever Uber Cup title. Mia Audina beat Gong Zhichao in the first singles, and Indonesia clinched the decisive fifth match to break China's grip on the trophy. This ended China's run of four consecutive Uber Cup titles dating back to 1990.
Mia Audina, Indonesia's top singles player, played a pivotal role in the final by defeating China's world number one Gong Zhichao in the opening singles match. Her victory set the tone for Indonesia's historic 3–2 triumph, marking one of the most significant upsets in Uber Cup final history.
China's loss to Indonesia in the 1998 final ended a remarkable streak of four consecutive Uber Cup titles (1990, 1992, 1994, 1996). The defeat prompted a rebuilding phase for Chinese women's badminton, though China would reclaim the title in 2000.
