1970 Thomas Cup qualification

The qualifying process for the 1970 Thomas Cup took place from 29 July 1969 to 5 April 1970 to decide the final teams which will play in the final tournament.

Qualification process
The qualification process is divided into four regions, the Asian Zone, the American Zone, the European Zone and the Australasian Zone. Teams in their respective zone will compete in a knockout format. Teams will compete for two days, with two singles and doubles played on the first day and three singles and two doubles played on the next day. The teams that win their respective zone will earn a place in the final tournament to be held in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia were the champions of the last Thomas Cup, therefore the team automatically qualified for the inter-zone play-offs.

Controversy
The semi-final tie between Indonesia and Thailand was held in Bangkok on 16 and 17 January 1970. In the first day, Indonesia took a 3–1 lead against Thailand. In the second day of the competition, Indonesia lead 3–2 in the tie after Darmadi defeated Bandid Jaiyen in the first of three men's singles matches. Controversy arose in the second men's singles match when a incident similar to the final of the 1962 Asian Games men's team event happened on court. Indonesian singles player Muljadi, who was leading 7–5 against Thailand's Somsook Boonyasukhanonda protested against the umpire's line calls. Play was later resumed despite Muljadi's protest against the umpire. At 12–11 up, Muljadi was faulted for his serve and ended up losing the first game 15–12 to the Thai. In the second game, the Indonesian had already walked out of court. As Boonyasukhanonda kept serving to an empty court for an 8–0 lead in the second game, the Thai umpire, Piensak Sosothikul awarded the Thais a walkover, with Thailand winning the tie against Indonesia.

The Badminton Association of Indonesia later asked to resume the abandoned play with Thailand in a neutral country and chose Kyoto as the host ground. While the Japan Badminton Association agreed to resume play, Thailand later refused to play. The president of the Badminton Association of Thailand later issued an official statement, stating that Thailand has already been declared winners of the semi-final tie under the rules of the IBF when Indonesia defaulted by walking out and resuming play in Japan would create a dangerous precedent. The Thai association formally protested against the IBF ruling that Indonesia and Thailand should resume play in Kyoto. However, the IBF did not receive a letter from the Thai association regarding the refusal of play in Kyoto. On 16 February 1970, the IBF ruled in Indonesia's favor as the Indonesian team were given a 6–3 walkover against Thailand and were due to play Japan in the final of the Asian Zone. According to the president of the Badminton Association of Indonesia, Sudirman, this was due to the fact that the Badminton Association of Thailand failed to answer the decision that the tie should be resumed in Kyoto.