The Badminton Association of India (BAI) officially began the 50-day countdown to the BWF World Championships 2026 on Sunday, marking the tournament's return to India after 17 years. Scheduled from August 17 to August 23 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, the event will feature participation from over 55 countries with nearly 800 players, team officials, support staff, technical officials, and media personnel. This edition is the first-ever staging of the Championships in the national capital.
BAI President Highlights Significance
BAI President Himanta Biswa Sarma described the return as a defining moment for Indian badminton. "The BWF World Championships is an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable progress of Indian badminton, showcase India's capability to deliver a world-class sporting event, and reinforce our commitment to building a stronger sporting ecosystem," Sarma said. He added that the event reflects the growing confidence of the international sporting community in India's ability to host events of the highest standard.
30th Edition with Elite Competition
The 30th edition of the Championships will bring together the world's elite across all five disciplines: Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles, and Mixed Doubles. Sarma expressed confidence that the Championship will leave a lasting legacy for badminton and inspire many more young Indians to dream big. India has been a consistent force in the tournament, winning at least one medal at every edition since 2011, amassing 14 medals across 11 consecutive editions — a record matched only by China.
PV Sindhu Excited for Home Tournament
Two-time Olympic and five-time World Championships medalist PV Sindhu, who won the historic gold in Basel in 2019, expressed her excitement for the home tournament. "The World Championships have been one of the most special tournaments of my career. To have the opportunity to play the World Championships in India, in front of our own fans, makes it even more meaningful," Sindhu said. She added that hosting the event after 17 years is a landmark moment and a reflection of how far the sport has come in India.
For India's current generation of superstars, playing a World Championship in front of a home crowd is a historic first. Sanjay Mishra, General Secretary of BAI, noted that Indian badminton is at an exciting stage with young players consistently making breakthroughs and experienced athletes competing with the world's best. "Hosting the BWF World Championships at this moment is both a recognition of India's growing stature in world badminton and an opportunity to build on that momentum," Mishra said.
Strong International Field
The grid assembling in New Delhi represents the absolute pinnacle of badminton. South Korea's reigning Olympic champion An Se-young headlines the women's singles field, while China's Shi Yu Qi and Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn spearhead a highly competitive Men's Singles line-up. The doubles divisions feature world-class fields including Malaysia's former world champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik alongside Indonesia's top-tier pairings. Traditional powerhouses Japan, Thailand, and Denmark are also deploying their strongest squads, ensuring a premium sporting spectacle.
