Badminton World Championships 2026

New Delhi will host the Badminton World Championships in August 2026, marking the event’s return to India after 17 years and to Asia after four. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) announced the decision during the closing ceremony of the 2025 Championships in Paris, shortly after India’s men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty secured a bronze medal. In a formal handover, BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, along with French Badminton Federation chief Frank Laurent, transferred the hosting rights to Badminton Association of India (BAI) General Secretary Sanjay Mishra, cementing India’s role as a rising force in global badminton.

This will be only the second time India hosts the tournament, following the 2009 edition in Hyderabad, where Indian shuttlers failed to win a single medal. In 2026, expectations are higher than ever.

Highlights from the 2025 BWC in Paris

The 2025 Badminton World Championships in Paris served as a powerful showcase of India’s continued rise in global badminton. The standout performance came from the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who clinched a bronze medal—their second at the World Championships after their historic 2022 breakthrough. Their strong showing in Paris not only energised Indian fans but also played a symbolic role in the host city handover, as BWF officially awarded the 2026 Championships to New Delhi during the closing ceremony.

While India’s singles players did not secure medals in 2025, the tournament reaffirmed the nation’s status as one of the sport’s most consistent contenders. The event also marked the end of a four-year gap since an Asian city last hosted the championships, with Nanjing, China, having staged the 2018 edition.

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India’s Medal Legacy at the BWF World Championships

India’s journey at the BWF World Championships has evolved from solitary milestones to consistent podium presence. Since Prakash Padukone’s breakthrough bronze in 1983, India has achieved 15 podium finishes at the World Championships. Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa became the first Indian doubles medallists in 2011, signalling a shift toward all-around competitiveness.

Below is a summary of India’s medal-winning performances:

Players to Watch in BWC 2026

All eyes will be on PV Sindhu, India’s most successful shuttler, at the BWF World Championships. With five medals, including one gold, two silvers, and two bronzes, she remains the nation’s top medal contender in women’s singles.

In men’s singles, Lakshya Sen (bronze, 2021) and H.S. Prannoy (bronze, 2023) have consistently delivered on the global stage. Kidambi Srikanth, silver medalist in 2021, could also play a crucial role with his experience.

The men’s doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made history as the first Indians to medal in this category, winning bronze in 2022 and repeating the feat in Paris 2025. They are strong candidates to challenge for gold in front of a home crowd.

What’s Next for Indian Badminton?

New Delhi will host the Badminton World Championships in August 2026, marking the event’s return to India after 17 years. The last edition in India was held in Hyderabad in 2009, where the country failed to win a single medal. Since then, India has emerged as one of the most consistent medal-winning nations at the tournament.

PV Sindhu remains the most decorated Indian athlete with five medals, including one gold, two silver, and two bronze. Recent successes include Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s historic men’s doubles bronze, as well as H.S. Prannoy’s singles medal. With strong performances across categories and official support from the Badminton Association of India, 2026 offers a real chance to rewrite history on home soil.

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