India to host BWF World Championships in 2026
The BWF World Championships is the biggest badminton tournament sanctioned by the World Badminton Federation. While the 2021 edition would be held in Spain, it all comes to India in 2026.
FollowIn what comes as exciting news for Indian badminton fans, the 2026 BWF World Championships would be held in India. Although India was slated to play host to the 2023 Sudirman Cup, the World Badminton Federation instead awarded the prestigious World Championships right to the nation. While the Sudirman Cup was supposed to be held in China this year, it has now been shifted to Finland, citing the COVID-19 pandemic concerns.
"Suzhou will now stage the 2023 edition of the BWF World Mixed Team Championships, with original 2023 hosts India accepting the opportunity to host the BWF World Championships in 2026. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) can confirm Suzhou, China, has been awarded the hosting rights of the TotalEnergies BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2023. Suzhou was due to host the championships in 2021, but with BWF unable to stage any tournaments in China this year, the event was switched to Vantaa in Finland," the BWF announced in a release.
Meanwhile, it would be just the second edition of the World Championships to be held in India. The previous edition was conducted in 2009 in Hyderabad. Furthermore, the Badminton Association of India president, Himanta Biswa Sarma, expressed his delight at India being awarded the hosting right for the Championships.
Sarma asserted that staging the Championship would be a big boost and achievement for India, reports PTI. He thanked the BWF for providing India with the opportunity. He also feels that other than the world-class athletes performing and amusing the fans, it would also be a significant assistance for the sport in the nation.
The previous edition of the Championships was held in 2019, with ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu winning the gold. She has also won a couple of silver and bronze at the event. Also, Saina Nehwal had won a couple of silvers in the same, while B Sai Praneeth won the bronze in 2019. Also, the doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Jwala Gutta had won the bronze in 2011.
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