India will host the badminton world championships in 2026, world sports governing body BWF said on Tuesday. India was due to host the Sudirman Cup in 2023, but the World Badminton Federation has decided to award the hosting rights for the mixed team world championships to China. The BWF have been forced to move this year’s Sudirman Cup from Suzhou, China to Vantaa, Finland due to the COVID-19 situation in the Asian country. “Suzhou will now host the 2023 edition of the BWF Mixed Team World Championships, India, original host in 2023, accepting the opportunity to host the BWF World Championships in 2026,” said the BWF in a press release.
“The World Badminton Federation (BWF) can confirm that Suzhou, China has secured the hosting rights for the 2023 BWF Sudirman TotalEnergies Cup Final.” Suzhou was scheduled to host the championships in 2021, but BWF was not unable to organize tournaments in China, this year the event was moved to Vantaa in Finland. This will only be the second time India has hosted the world championship, with Hyderabad having hosted the prestigious event in 2009.
“The organization of a tournament of the size of the World Championships is a great achievement for us at the Indian Badminton Association as well as for the country,” said the President of the Indian Badminton Association (BAI) , Himanta Biswa Sarma. “We thank the BWF for considering India for the most prestigious and prestigious tournament in badminton and I believe that the coming of world-class commuters will not only be a great opportunity and motivation for those passionate about the game, but will also see huge growth for the sport across the country. PV Sindhu, who is heading to the Olympics, is the reigning world champion in the women’s singles. Sindhu also won two silver medals and two bronze medals at the world championships.
B Sai Praneeth had put an end to a 36-year wait for a medal at the men’s singles world championships in Basel, Switzerland, two years ago. Saina Nehwal won silver and bronze in the 2015 and 2017 editions, while the female duo Ashwini Ponnappa and Jwala Gutta won bronze in London in 2011.
“Indian badminton has been a great success with two successive medals from the Olympics and with this latest news from the World Championships it is the right stimulus for the game,” said BAI General Secretary Ajay Singhania. “On behalf of BAI, I would like to express our thanks to the BWF and the organization of such tournaments will also be a defining moment for Indian badminton. “
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