1979 Thomas Cup 1979 Thomas Cup The 1979 Thomas Cup was the 11th edition of the Thomas Cup competition, the world championship of men's international team badminton. The final rounds contested by qualifying zone winners and defending champions Indonesia were held at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia in late May and early June. First played in 1948-1949, the Thomas Cup competition was held every three years until 1982, and since then has been held every two years. Indonesia won its seventh title after beating Denmark in the final round. 21 teams from 4 regions took part in the competition. As defending champion,
World Badminton Federation to dismiss the South African association due to the apartheid policies of the then South African government. Conferences called by the Asian Badminton Confederation (now known as the Badminton Asia Confederation) were held in September and November 1977 which resulted in the withdrawal of the African Badminton Union (now Badminton Confederation of Africa) from the IBF. The founding of the World Badminton Federation was officially proclaimed at a third conference held in Hong Kong in February 1978. Twenty-two nations and regions, nearly all from Asia or Africa joined the federation: Bangladesh, Brunei, China, Ghana, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Kenya,