Twelve national teams contested for the Thomas Cup in the 1951-1952 badminton season, the tournament's second edition.
According to the rules then in place Malaya was exempt from earlier ties (team matches), needing only to defend its title in a conclusive challenge round tie.
The other contestants were divided into three regional qualifying zones, the Pacific, Europe, and Pan America, for the early ties.
India qualified in the Pacific Zone by beating newcomers Thailand and Australia without the loss of a match (thus, 9–0 in each case).
Here Denmark emerged victorious, but not without a tough fight from Sweden (6–3) in the zone semifinal.