The Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi has received early approval from top international players, including the full Chinese contingent, who completed practice sessions at the venue on Saturday — less than 48 hours before the BWF World Championships 2026 gets underway. The tournament marks badminton's return to India after a 17-year gap, making it one of the most anticipated editions in recent memory.

Venue Transformed After ₹20 Crore Overhaul

The stadium's readiness comes after a significant upgrade. Following concerns raised by players during the India Open earlier this year — which served as a test event for the World Championships — the Badminton Association of India (BAI) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), which owns the venue, moved swiftly. Over ₹20 crore was spent on refurbishing the stadium to meet the standards expected at a world-level event.

Notably, BAI has also set up a dedicated players' lounge with round-the-clock food availability, and has installed a sanitary pad machine for women players — a step that has been widely noted as a thoughtful addition to player welfare infrastructure.

Players Flag Slight Wind Drift, Adjust to Conditions

While the overall reception has been positive, players who trained at the main hall on Saturday noted a slight side drift across all courts. Chinese world No. 3 Wang Zhi Yi, who is likely to face former world champion PV Sindhu in the pre-quarterfinals, acknowledged the improvement but flagged the air movement as something players would need to adapt to.

'I think the stadium has changed a lot; that's very good. I just finished my training; I feel like there was a little bit of wind on the court, so we need to get used to the conditions,' Wang said after practice.

Chen Yufei, the 2020 Olympic gold medallist, echoed a broadly positive view. 'The conditions are quite good compared to the last time we played here. I am getting used to the weather, but apart from that, I am just focused on giving my best in the tournament,' she said.

China Eyes End to 15-Year Women's Singles Drought

China arrives in New Delhi with strong ambitions in women's singles, a category in which the country has not won a World Championship gold in 15 years. Their challenge will be led by Wang Zhi Yi (world No. 3), Chen Yufei (2020 Olympic champion), and world No. 5 Han Yue — a formidable three-pronged attack that will test the depth of the draw.

Schedule and Format

Unlike the India Open, where competition typically begins on Tuesday, the BWF World Championships opens on Monday, with matches from the top half of both the men's and women's singles draws scheduled on the opening day. The accelerated start reflects the scale of the draw and the volume of matches the tournament must accommodate across its full run.

What to Watch

The potential pre-quarterfinal clash between Wang Zhi Yi and PV Sindhu — a former world champion playing on home soil — is already shaping up as one of the marquee early-round contests. With the venue now cleared by players and the organisational groundwork in place, all eyes turn to the shuttle as the world's best gather in New Delhi for badminton's biggest stage.