# 1981 Uber Cup

The 1981 Uber Cup was the ninth edition of the Uber Cup, the women's badminton team competition. The tournament took place in the 1980-81 badminton season. Japan won its fifth title after beating Indonesia in the final round in Tokyo.
This edition was the first and only time the tournament, including the qualification tournament was played in a best-of-9 format, similar to the Thomas Cup where two singles and two doubles were played on the first day, followed by three singles and two doubles on the second day.

## Qualification

14 teams from 4 regions took part in the competition. As defending champions, Japan skipped the qualifications and played directly in the second round of the inter-zone ties (team matches), effectively the semi-finals of the tournament.
| Means of qualification | Date | Venue | Slot | Qualified teams |
| 1978 Uber Cup | 13–20 May 1978 | Auckland | 1 | Japan |
| Asian Zone | – | – | 1 | Malaysia |
| American Zone | 7 December 1980 – 22 February 1981 | Lima Quebec City | 1 | Canada |
| European Zone | 18 November 1980 – 4 April 1981 | Dunfermline Helsingborg Örnsköldsvik Redbridge Sunderland | 1 | England |
| Australasian Zone | 28–31 October 1980 | Jakarta | 1 | Indonesia |
| Total | Total | Total | 5 | |
From the qualifying rounds, four countries progressed to the inter-zone ties. Malaysia directly qualified for the final tournament as they were the only team to enter the Asian Zone. In the European zone final, England defeated Denmark 5–4. From the Pan American zone, the Canada defeated the United States 8–1. In the Australasian zone, Indonesia defeated India 9–0.

## Knockout stage

The following four teams, shown by region, qualified for the 1981 Uber Cup. In the first round, Indonesia defeated Malaysia 9–0. In the second round, defending champions Japan beat Canada 9–0 while Indonesia defeated England 5–4.
Indonesia clashed with Japan for a fifth consecutive time in the final. Japan won the Uber Cup for the fifth time by defeating Indonesia 6–3 in the final.

### Bracket

| First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Challenge round | Challenge round |
| England | | | |
| England | | 23 May 1981 – Tokyo | 23 May 1981 – Tokyo | |
| Bye | | 23 May 1981 – Tokyo | 23 May 1981 – Tokyo |
| Bye | | Japan | 9 |
| | | Canada | 0 |
| Japan | | Canada | 0 |
| Japan | | | | 30 May 1981 – Tokyo | 30 May 1981 – Tokyo |
| Bye | | | | 30 May 1981 – Tokyo | 30 May 1981 – Tokyo |
| Bye | | | | Japan | 6 |
| 22 May 1981 – Tokyo | 22 May 1981 – Tokyo | | | | Japan | 6 |
| 22 May 1981 – Tokyo | 22 May 1981 – Tokyo | | | Indonesia | 3 |
| Malaysia | 0 | | | Indonesia | 3 |
| Malaysia | 0 | 26 May 1981 – Tokyo | 26 May 1981 – Tokyo | | |
| Indonesia | 9 | 26 May 1981 – Tokyo | 26 May 1981 – Tokyo | | |
| Indonesia | 9 | Indonesia | 5 | | |
| | | England | 4 |
| Bye | | England | 4 |
| England | | | |

### First round

* 22 May 1981 (1981-05-22) 23 May 1981 (1981-05-23)
| Indonesia | 9–0 | Malaysia |
| Report |||
* Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan

### Second round

* 23 May 1981 (1981-05-23) 24 May 1981 (1981-05-24)
| Japan | 8–1 | Canada |
| Report |||
* Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan
* 26 May 1981 (1981-05-26) 27 May 1981 (1981-05-27)
| Indonesia | 5–4 | England |
| Report |||
* Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan

### Challenge round

* 30 May 1981 (1981-05-30) 31 May 1981 (1981-05-31)
| Japan | 6–3 | Indonesia |
| Report |||
* Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan
* 1981 Uber Cup winner
* Japan Fifth title