CM Sarma: BWF Worlds' return after 17 years marks India's badminton rise
Synopsis
The Chief Minister's Office of Assam shared that the BWF World Championships are returning to India after 17 years, with BAI chief and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma citing it as proof of India's rise in global badminton. India last hosted the event in Hyderabad in 2009.
Key Takeaways
The BWF World Championships are returning to India after a gap of 17 years , with the last edition hosted in Hyderabad in 2009 .
Himanta Biswa Sarma , Chief Minister of Assam and president of the Badminton Association of India , hailed the hosting as a marker of India's badminton rise.
The announcement was shared by the Chief Minister's Office of Assam on 19 July 2026 .
India's badminton growth since the mid-2010s — backed by Olympic medals and government investment — forms the backdrop for this hosting milestone.
Venue upgrades, selection trials, and broader BWF calendar decisions for India are the key developments to watch ahead of the championships.
The Chief Minister's Office of Assam shared on Sunday, 19 July 2026 a post highlighting that the BWF World Championships are returning to India after 17 years, with Badminton Association of India (BAI) chief and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma framing the event as a marker of the country's growing stature in global badminton.
Context
India last hosted the BWF World Championships in Hyderabad in 2009, making this return a significant moment for the sport in the country. The post, shared from the official CMO Assam handle, links the hosting milestone directly to India's broader rise as a badminton powerhouse. Sarma, who serves concurrently as Chief Minister of Assam and president of the Badminton Association of India, positioned the hosting rights as both a sporting achievement and a recognition of India's administrative capacity in the sport.
Policy Backdrop
India's badminton ecosystem has undergone a significant transformation since the mid-2010s, fuelled by Olympic medal wins and the expansion of domestic circuits that have deepened the talent pipeline. Central and state governments have steadily increased funding for training infrastructure and academies across the country. The dual role held by several chief ministers — including Sarma — as heads of national sports federations has increasingly blurred the line between state administration and sports governance, a model that has drawn both praise for resource mobilisation and scrutiny for concentration of authority.
Stakeholders and Impact
Indian badminton athletes stand to benefit most directly, as hosting a BWF World Championships provides home-court exposure at the sport's highest level. State sports bodies, venue operators, and hospitality sectors in the host city are among the key stakeholders in the organisational rollout. For the Badminton Association of India, securing the event is also a credibility marker with the Badminton World Federation, signalling India's readiness to host marquee global events on a recurring basis.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to venue upgrades, logistical preparations, and the scheduling of selection trials for Indian athletes ahead of the championships. The BWF's broader calendar decisions for India — including potential future hosting arrangements — will also be closely watched by the federation and state bodies. A successful hosting could strengthen India's case for a more regular presence on the BWF tournament calendar.
Point of View
And the timing aligns with a period of peak public interest in Indian badminton. For Sarma personally, the milestone reinforces his positioning as a sports administrator of national consequence, extending his political brand beyond Assam's borders. The broader pattern of chief ministers leading national federations continues to define Indian sports governance, for better or worse.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did India last host the BWF World Championships?
India last hosted the BWF World Championships in Hyderabad in 2009 , making the upcoming edition the first return in 17 years.
Who is the president of the Badminton Association of India?
Himanta Biswa Sarma , the Chief Minister of Assam, is the president of the Badminton Association of India (BAI) .
What is the significance of BWF Worlds returning to India?
The return signals India's growing stature in global badminton after a sustained period of Olympic medals and domestic circuit expansion, and demonstrates the country's capacity to host top-tier international events.
What is the BWF World Championships?
The BWF World Championships is the premier annual tournament organised by the Badminton World Federation , the global governing body of the sport, featuring the world's top players across all categories.
How has India's badminton grown in recent years?
India has seen steady growth in badminton since the mid-2010s, driven by Olympic medal wins , increased government funding for training centres, and a stronger domestic circuit that has widened the talent base.
