High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Thomas Cup competition is an international team tournament for supremacy in men`s badminton (its female counterpart is the Uber Cup). Beginning in 1948-1949 it was held every three years until 1982 and has been held every two years thereafter. Nineteen teams contested for the Thomas Cup during the 1957-1958 season. As defending champion Malaya (now Malaysia) was exempt until the conclusive tie (team match) called the challenge round. The other eighteen teams were divided into four qualifying zones; Asia, Australasia, Europe, and Pan America; with the winners of each intra-zone competition advancing to inter-zone competition in Singapore to determine a challenger to Malaya. For a more detailed description of the Thomas Cup format see Wikipedia`s general article on the Thomas Cup.