KUALA LUMPUR – The Badminton World Federation (BWF) may need to relook and review the hosting model for the Thomas & Uber Cup as there are still no bids for the 2026 edition.
BAM’s general secretary Datuk Kenny Goh said the world governing body needed to have an internal discussion about why there were no bids yet from member nations to host the prestigious team events.
“I’m not speaking on behalf of the BWF, even though I’m a council member, but I think the world badminton body needs to relook and review the hosting model.
“It is a bit discouraging that until now there have been no bids yet to host the tournament and they now have to extend the deadline.
Meanwhile, it has been 13 years since Malaysia hosted the prestigious Thomas & Uber Cup and many may think it is high time that BAM bids for the 2026 edition.
However, BAM, at the moment, has no intention to bid for the hosting rights despite the BWF recently announcing the extension of the deadline to bid to February 1.
The Thomas and Uber Cups are male and female team competitions where the best nations will compete to see who has the strongest squad.
The nation’s capital Kuala Lumpur has hosted the Thomas Cup on six occasions in 1970, 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000 and 2010.
Malaysia have won the Thomas Cup five times, emerging as champions in the first three editions as Malaya in 1949, 1952 and 1955 before independence.
The country’s next two titles were won in 1967 in Jakarta, Indonesia and in 1992 on home soil. Unfortunately, Malaysia have never won the Uber Cup.
This year’s edition will be hosted in the Chinese city of Chengdu from April 27 to May 5. – December 30, 2023