Former All England champion Pullela Gopichand has hailed India's hosting of the BWF World Championships as a defining moment for badminton and Indian sport, expressing confidence that home conditions will give the country's medal contenders a meaningful edge. The 30th edition of the tournament is scheduled in New Delhi from 17 to 23 August, marking the first time India has staged the event in 17 years.

Gopichand's Reaction

'I think it's really wonderful to see the country host the world championship again. It's a great moment not only for badminton but for Indian sport,' Gopichand said at the official mascot and anthem launch event in New Delhi. He added that badminton's sustained growth in India made it only fitting that the country host a prestige event of this scale.

Gopichand made his remarks alongside Badminton Association of India (BAI) president and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra, and other senior officials who attended the launch.

India's Medal Contenders

Gopichand pointed to a strong pool of Indian shuttlers heading into the tournament, citing PV Sindhu's recent run to the finals in Japan, alongside the performances of Ayush Shetty, and the men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty as reasons for optimism. 'To go into the big games with such contenders, I think it's great. I'm sure the home conditions, the home crowd, and the support and the familiarity would definitely help the players,' he stated.

Back-to-Back with Asian Games

The BWF World Championships will be immediately followed by the Asian Games, making the next two months what Gopichand described as 'very critical' for India's leading players. He acknowledged the pressures of a packed international calendar but argued that Indian shuttlers are well-accustomed to competing across multiple major events within a single season. 'Every year, this challenge is there,' he noted, adding that familiarity with local conditions gives Indian players an advantage over rivals who must travel.

Infrastructure and Organisation

Gopichand expressed satisfaction with the state of India's preparations, noting that the government had invested in rebuilding the host stadium and that organisational standards had improved considerably. 'The stadium is looking really nice. And the organising has gotten better. So I'm sure that this time around, the experience of the players will be very different,' he said. He also praised the newly unveiled mascot and anthem, describing them as energising for both players and fans. This comes amid a broader push by Indian sporting bodies to attract top global events, reflecting the country's growing confidence as a host nation.