Uber Cup

The Uber Cup, sometimes called the World Team Championships for Women, is a major international badminton competition contested by women's national badminton teams. It has been played every two years since 1984, amend from three years previuosly, after merging with the Thomas Cup, played in same period and venue.

The Uber Cup is named after an ex-British women's badminton player, Betty Uber, who had the idea of hosting the women's event similar to men in New Zealand back in 1950.cite web|url=http://www.topbadminton.nl/2004-ubercup/historie-uk.html |title=Thomas -/Uber Cup history |accessdate=2007-07-19] She also made the draw for the 1956-1957 inaugural tournament, which took place at Lytham St. Annes in Lancashire, England.cite web|url=http://www.worldbadminton.net/ubercup.asp |title=THE LADIES' WORLD TEAM BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE UBER CUP |accessdate=2007-06-19]

The cup follows a similar format to that of the men's competition of the Thomas Cup. In the twenty-one tournament held, China is the most successful, having lifted the trophy eleven times. Japan is second, having won it five times, followed by Indonesia and United States, each with three cups.

The 2008 Uber Cup was contested in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Trophy

The Uber Cup trophy was officially presented at the annual general meeting in 1956, the year the first Uber Cup tournament was first held. It was made by "Mappin & Webb", prominent silversmiths on Regent Street in London. The trophy is 20 inches high with a rotating globe on top of a plinth and a female player standing on top of shuttlecock.

Results

Uber Cup summaries

1957 - 1981

uccessful national teams

So far, only 4 countries have won the Uber Cup with China the most successful team with 11 titles, followed by Japan (5 titles), Indonesia (3 titles) and United States (3 titles). The Uber Cup has only crossed the shores of two continents so far: Asia and North America.

Eight teams have made it into the finals. Korea has played in the finals five times, but failed to win losing each to China. Other finalists have included Denmark, England and the Netherlands. Sweden, Hong Kong, Germany and Chinese Taipei are the other four teams which have made it into the final four.

:* = "hosts"

Team appearances

As of 2008, twenty-one teams have made at least one appearance in Uber Cup. Asia is the continent with most teams at ten, followed by Europe with six. Americas and Oceania have each had two teams that qualified while South Africa is the only team that has qualified from Africa.;19 times
*bd|Indonesia
*bd|Japan

;15 times
*bd|Denmark

;13 times
*bd|China
*bd|England
*bd|South Korea

;9 times
*bd|Canada
*bd|Netherlands;8 times
*bd|Malaysia
*bd|United States

;6 times
*bd|New Zealand

;5 times
*bd|Sweden
*bd|Hong Kong

;4 times
*bd|Germany

;3 times
*bd|Australia
*bd|South Africa

;2 times
*bd|India
*bd|Russia
*bd|Thailand
*bd|Chinese Taipei

;1 time
*bd|Singapore

References

External links

* [http://www.internationalbadminton.org/uber.html BWF: Uber Cup]