How it unfolded
Delayed a year by the pandemic, the 2020 Thomas Cup final was held in October 2021 in Aarhus, Denmark, where Indonesia beat China 3-0. It was Indonesia's first title since Guangzhou in 2002, a 19-year gap during which the country had kept its title as the most successful men's team nation while repeatedly stumbling at the final hurdle. Anthony Sinisuka Ginting opened the tie with a win over Lu Guangzu, then men's doubles pair Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto beat He Jiting and Zhou Haodong 21-12, 21-19. In the third rubber, Jonatan Christie took the first game 21-14 against Li Shifeng, lost the second 18-21, then closed out the third 21-14. As the tie ended in three rubbers, players poured onto the court, and a mishap during the flag ceremony saw the wrong anthem played instead of Indonesia's. The win brought Indonesia's Thomas Cup total to 14.
Why it still matters
This tie reconfirmed Indonesia as still the most successful nation in the sport's biggest team event, and showed the Cipayung system working again after a generational lull. That two Asian powers filled a final held on European soil also laid bare the sport's geographic reality. The following year, in 2022, India would beat Indonesia 3-0 in the same final for its own first title.