Syed Modi International Demoted to Super 100 in Major BWF Restructuring
In a significant development for Indian badminton, the Syed Modi International tournament has been officially demoted from the Super 300 category to the new Super 100 tier under the Badminton World Federation's (BWF) comprehensive reforms. This decision, announced on Monday, marks a notable shift in the tournament's standing within the global badminton calendar for the 2027-2030 cycle.
India Open Retains Elite Status Amid Controversies
While the Syed Modi International faces a downgrade, the India Open has successfully maintained its Super 750 status despite facing multiple controversies during its 2026 edition. This preservation of elite ranking underscores the tournament's continued importance on the international stage, even as other events undergo changes.
Expansion of BWF World Tour Structure
The demotion is part of a broader restructuring of the BWF World Tour finals framework, which now features an expanded six-tier system. Under this new structure:
- The BWF World Tour Finals remains the pinnacle event
- Five Super 1000 tournaments
- Five Super 750 tournaments
- Nine Super 500 tournaments
- Eight Super 300 tournaments
- Eight Super 100 tournaments
Notably, this restructuring introduces Super 100 events as an official part of the BWF World Tour for the first time, with ranking points earned in these tournaments counting toward qualification for the prestigious BWF World Tour Finals.
Historical Significance of Syed Modi International
The Syed Modi International has been a regular fixture in the BWF annual calendar since 2009, named in honor of the legendary Indian badminton superstar Syed Modi. The tournament, which serves as a tribute to his legacy, was upgraded to Super 300 status in 2018 and has traditionally been held at the Babu Banarasi Das Badminton Stadium in Lucknow during the last week of December.
Over the years, the event has attracted prominent international players, providing valuable opportunities for Indian shuttlers to compete against world-class talent. Double Olympic medalist PV Sindhu notably claimed the title as recently as 2024, highlighting the tournament's competitive significance. Despite occasional complaints about fog and chilly conditions during the December timeframe, the tournament consistently drew a respectable number of participants from across the globe.
BAI Secretary Explains Global Expansion Rationale
Sanjay Mishra, Secretary of the Badminton Association of India (BAI), provided context for the BWF's decision, explaining that the international body received applications from 56 countries for world tour tournaments this cycle, compared to just 32 countries previously. "Naturally, the numbers are limited, so BWF wanted to take the game to new areas," Mishra stated.
He further elaborated that even China has been allocated only three events under the new distribution. "We told BWF that we want to host the events which we have been hosting. But BWF had too many requests and they wanted more countries to host world tour events. Because smaller nations can host Super 100 events as the funds and requirements are small," Mishra explained.
Regarding the decision to maintain the Syed Modi International as a Super 100 event, Mishra noted: "Since we were getting one Super 100, we thought it is better to have it in Lucknow as Syed Modi International is one of our oldest events."
Impact on Indian Badminton Calendar
With the Syed Modi International now positioned as India's sole Super 100 event in the BWF calendar, the Odisha Masters will revert to International Masters status. This redistribution reflects the BWF's strategic emphasis on expanding badminton's global footprint while managing the limited number of available tournament slots.
The restructuring also includes significant promotions for other tournaments, most notably the Denmark Open, which has been elevated from Super 750 to the elite Super 1000 category. These changes collectively represent the most substantial overhaul of the BWF World Tour since its inception, with implications for player rankings, tournament prestige, and the global development of badminton.
