Badminton is set to take center stage in India once again as the country gears up to host the 2026 Badminton World Championships in New Delhi. The prestigious tournament, confirmed by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Monday, September 1, will mark the return of the event to Indian soil after a gap of 17 years. The last time India hosted the championships was back in 2009, when Hyderabad became the hub of world badminton.

The upcoming edition, scheduled for August 2026, is not just another sporting event—it’s a celebration of India’s rise as a badminton powerhouse and its growing stature as a global destination for elite sporting competitions. For Indian fans, this is more than just a tournament; it’s a homecoming that promises drama, intensity, and a showcase of world-class talent.

The Big Announcement: Handover from Paris to New Delhi

The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the 2025 World Championships in Paris, which had delivered another week of high-quality badminton action. At the grand ceremony, held at the Adidas Arena, the symbolic handover took place with BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, Federation Francaise de Badminton chief Frank Laurent, and Sanjay Mishra, General Secretary of the Badminton Association of India (BAI), in attendance.

Mishra, accepting the responsibility on behalf of India, promised that the 2026 edition in New Delhi would match the grandeur and excellence that Paris displayed in 2025.

“We assure that India will give nothing less than 100 per cent to uphold and carry forward the same standards of excellence and grandeur that Paris has showcased. We look forward to welcoming the badminton family to Delhi,” Mishra said in his official statement.

This announcement is also significant because the 2026 edition marks the return of the championships to Asia after eight years. The last Asian host was Nanjing, China, in 2018.

The BWF World Championships are New Delhi–bound in 2026! 🏸🇮🇳

From France to India—handed over by BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul and FFBaD’s Frank Laurent to BAI General Secretary, Sanjay Mishra, the road to the 30th edition in August 2026 begins now. 🔜… pic.twitter.com/IfZXWYdLnz— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) September 1, 2025

India’s Performance at the 2025 BWF World Championships in Paris

India’s campaign in Paris in 2025 once again highlighted the nation’s steady rise on the global stage. The men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty led from the front, extending India’s medal run that began in 2011.

• Round of 16: The ninth-seeded duo fought past China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in a thrilling three-game clash, 21-19, 21-15, 21-17.

• Quarterfinals: They caused another upset by defeating Malaysia’s Olympic medal-winning pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, 21-12, 21-19.

• Semifinals: Despite a spirited performance, Satwik-Chirag lost to China’s Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi in three hard-fought games (19-21, 21-18, 12-21), settling for bronze.

This bronze medal was their second at the World Championships, further cementing their reputation as one of the best doubles pairs globally. With this result, India also extended its streak of winning medals at every World Championship since 2011.

Other notable Indian performances included:

• P.V. Sindhu: The two-time Olympic medallist defeated World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi in the pre-quarters but exited in the quarterfinals against Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani after a close three-game contest.

• Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto: The mixed doubles pair pulled off a major upset by defeating fifth seeds Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet in the pre-quarters before bowing out in the last eight.

• HS Prannoy: Lost narrowly in the second round.

• Lakshya Sen: Fell in the first round against top seed Shi Yu Qi.

Despite limited medals, the consistent presence of Indian players in the advanced stages reaffirmed the nation’s strength in world badminton.

India as a Badminton Powerhouse: A Legacy in the Making

India’s badminton journey has been nothing short of inspirational. From the days of Prakash Padukone, who won the nation’s first World Championship medal (bronze) in Copenhagen in 1983, to the current era where Indian shuttlers regularly feature on the podium, the transformation has been phenomenal.

Key milestones in India’s World Championship history:

• 1983: Prakash Padukone wins bronze—the first Indian medal at the championships.

• 2011: Ashwini Ponnappa and Jwala Gutta break a 28-year drought with a women’s doubles bronze.

• 2013-2014: A teenage P.V. Sindhu wins back-to-back bronze medals.

• 2015: Saina Nehwal becomes the first Indian to reach the final, winning silver.

• 2017: Saina wins bronze while Sindhu battles Nozomi Okuhara in one of the greatest finals ever, securing silver.

• 2018: Sindhu wins another silver, narrowly missing gold.

• 2019: Sindhu makes history in Basel by winning India’s first-ever World Championship gold, crushing Okuhara in the final. B. Sai Praneeth also clinches bronze in men’s singles.

• 2021: Kidambi Srikanth becomes the first Indian male shuttler to reach the final, winning silver; Lakshya Sen adds bronze.

• 2022: Satwik-Chirag create history by becoming the first Indian men’s doubles pair to medal (bronze).

• 2023: HS Prannoy beats World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen en route to a bronze in Copenhagen.

• 2025: Satwik-Chirag secure another bronze in Paris.

These achievements underline India’s growing depth across singles and doubles categories. From one-off breakthroughs, Indian badminton has evolved into a consistent medal-winning force.

Global Stars of the 2025 Championships in Paris

The Paris edition also crowned several new and returning champions:

• Men’s Singles: China’s Shi Yu Qi, the 29-year-old top seed, defeated defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in a thrilling final (19-21, 21-10, 21-18), securing his maiden world title. This also ended China’s decade-long wait for a men’s singles gold since Chen Long in 2015.

• Women’s Singles: Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi clinched her third world crown after demolishing Chen Yufei of China 21-9, 21-13. Yamaguchi became only the second woman after Carolina Marin to win three world singles titles.

• Mixed Doubles: Malaysia celebrated a historic moment as Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei clinched the nation’s first-ever world title in this category, defeating China’s Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin.

• Women’s Doubles: China’s top seeds Tan Ning and Liu Shengshu defeated Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan in a three-game thriller lasting over 80 minutes.

• Men’s Doubles: South Korea’s Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho were crowned champions after a dominant win over China’s Liu Yuchen and Chen Boyang.

Why Hosting in India Matters

Hosting the 2026 Badminton World Championships is more than just an event for India—it’s a validation of its rising influence in global badminton. With tournaments like the India Open upgraded to Super 750 status, India has already positioned itself as a hub for major international competitions.

For New Delhi, the 2026 championships will:

• Boost India’s image as a world-class sporting destination.

• Provide a platform for Indian fans to witness the sport’s biggest stars live.

• Inspire the next generation of players by showcasing badminton at its highest level.

• Create an economic impact through tourism and international engagement.

Looking Ahead: New Delhi 2026

As the badminton world now turns its attention to New Delhi, expectations are sky-high. India will be aiming not just to host but to excel on home soil, continuing its medal streak and possibly adding another historic gold to its tally.

With the passionate Indian crowd, a strong lineup of world-class players, and a federation determined to deliver excellence, the 2026 BWF World Championships promises to be one of the most memorable editions in the tournament’s history.

The countdown begins, and come August 2026, the spotlight will firmly be on New Delhi as it welcomes the global badminton fraternity for an event that celebrates sport, passion, and India’s growing badminton legacy.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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