The 2004 Thomas Cup qualification process is a series of tournaments organised by the five IBF confederations to decide 11 of the 12 teams which will play in the 2004 Thomas Cup, with Indonesia qualifying automatically as hosts and trophy holders.
Qualified teams Country Confederation Qualified as Qualified on Final appearance Badminton Asia 2002 Thomas Cup winners, 2004 Thomas Cup hosts August 2003 20th Badminton Asia 2004 Badminton Asia Thomas Cup Preliminaries winners 22 February 2004 12th Badminton Africa 2004 Thomas Cup Preliminaries for Africa winners 25 February 2004 Debut Badminton Asia 2004 Badminton Asia Thomas Cup Preliminaries runners-up 22 February 2004 20th Badminton Asia 2004 Badminton Asia Thomas Cup Preliminaries semifinalists 21 February 2004 11th Badminton Asia 2004 Badminton Asia Thomas Cup Preliminaries semifinalists 21 February 2004 7th Badminton Asia Fifth place at the 2004 Badminton Asia Thomas Cup Preliminaries 22 February 2004 9th Badminton Europe 2004 European Thomas Cup Preliminaries winners 15 February 2004 23rd Badminton Europe 2004 European Thomas Cup Preliminaries runners-up 15 February 2004 2nd Badminton Europe 2004 European Thomas Cup Preliminaries third place 15 February 2004 8th Badminton Oceania 2004 Thomas Cup Preliminaries for Oceania winners 1 February 2004 Debut Badminton Pan Am 2004 Pan American Thomas Cup Preliminaries winners 21 February 2004 7th
Qualification process The number of teams participating in the final tournament is 12. The allocation of slots for each confederation are 4 from Asia, 3 from Europe, and 1 from each Africa, Oceania and Pan Am. Two automatic qualifiers are the host and defending champion.
Confederation qualification Badminton Confederation of Africa
The qualification for the African teams was held from 23 to 25 February 2004, at Pretoria Showgrounds in Pretoria, South Africa. The winners of the African qualification will qualify for the Thomas Cup.
Teams in contention
Round-robin
Badminton Asia
The qualification for the Asian teams was held from 17 to 22 February 2004, at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The semi-finalists of the Asian qualification will qualify for the Thomas Cup. The team that finishes 5th in the classification rounds will also earn a spot in the final tournament.
Teams in contention Teams qualified for the Group stage
First round (group stage)
Group A Group B Group C Group D
Classification round
Knockout stage
Badminton Europe
The qualification for the European teams was held from 10 to 15 February 2004, at the Mestská Hala in Prešov, Slovakia. The semi-finalists of the European qualification will qualify for the Thomas Cup.
Teams in contention Teams qualified for the Group stage
First round (group stage)
Group A Group B Group C Group D Group E Group F Group G Group H Group K
Second round (knockout stage)
Badminton Oceania
The qualification for the Oceanian teams was held from 31 January to 1 February 2004, at the Ken Kay Badminton Stadium in Ballarat, Australia. The winner of the Oceania qualification will qualify for the Thomas Cup.
Teams in contention
Play-off
Badminton Pan Am
The qualification for the Pan Am teams was held from 17 to 21 February 2004, at the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium in Bridgetown, Barbados. The winner of the Pan Am qualification will qualify for the Thomas Cup.
Teams in contention Teams qualified for the Group stage
(withdrew)
First round (group stage)
Group A Group B
Second round (knockout stage)
References