May 9, 2002 CE
Tournament Begins in Guangzhou
The 2002 Thomas Cup tournament officially commenced in Guangzhou, China, with 12 national teams competing in the group stage for a place in the knockout rounds.
Chronological Storyline (6 Milestones)
May 13, 2002 CE
Group Stage Concludes
The group stage concluded, with traditional powerhouses like host nation China, defending champions Indonesia, Denmark, and Malaysia advancing to the quarterfinals.
May 15, 2002 CE
Quarterfinals Held
The quarterfinal matches took place, with Indonesia, Malaysia, China, and Denmark all securing victories to advance to the semifinals of the tournament.
May 17, 2002 CE
Semifinal: Indonesia Defeats Denmark
Defending champions Indonesia defeated Denmark 3-1 in the other semifinal, setting up a rematch of the 2000 Thomas Cup final against Malaysia.
May 17, 2002 CE
Semifinal: Malaysia Upsets China
Malaysia pulled off a major upset by defeating host nation and tournament favorite China 3-2 in a thrilling semifinal match, knocking them out of the competition.
May 19, 2002 CE
The Final: Indonesia vs Malaysia
Indonesia defeated Malaysia 3-2 in a closely contested final, successfully defending their championship and claiming their 13th Thomas Cup title.