BAI Confident of Improved Conditions for BWF World Championships 2026

Improvements Ahead of BWF World Championships

By Sahil Kohli

New Delhi [India], August 5: Sanjay Mishra, the General Secretary of the Badminton Association of India (BAI), assured that the issues related to infrastructure and cleanliness experienced during the India Open 2026 will not recur at the upcoming BWF World Championships 2026. He emphasized that the India Open served as a "test event" to identify and rectify problems within the Indira Gandhi Indoor Arena, and all concerns have since been addressed.

Speaking to a Media House representative during the draw reveal for the BWF World Championships, scheduled from August 17 to 23 at the same venue, Mishra acknowledged the criticism faced earlier this year. Players had reported unsatisfactory conditions, including instances of bird droppings during matches. Notably, world number two Anders Antonsen withdrew from the tournament for the third consecutive year, citing "extreme pollution," while Denmark's Mia Blitchfeldt described the arena's conditions as "unacceptable and highly unprofessional," which hindered their performance.

Looking ahead to the world championships, Mishra stated, "The challenges players encountered during the India Open were due to it being a test event aimed at identifying issues. We have resolved every concern raised, and I am completely confident that we will not face similar problems this time around."

In a bold prediction, he mentioned that 21-year-old Ayush Shetty, a silver medalist at the Asian Championships, could potentially defeat defending champion and world number one Shi Yu Qi of China in the first round. Mishra noted that Shi becomes increasingly difficult to beat as the tournament progresses, making Ayush's first-round match crucial.

"If Ayush manages to overcome the world number one in the opening round—which I believe he can—it will significantly ease his path forward. While nothing is ever truly 'easy' at the World Championships, it would certainly be more favorable. Shi Yu Qi is a player who becomes tougher as the tournament advances, so Ayush might face him at his most vulnerable in the first round. His recent performances indicate he can defeat any player in the world," he added.

Mishra also expressed confidence in two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, who recently ended a two-year title drought by winning the Japan Open, defeating star player Akane Yamaguchi in straight games. In the last World Championships, Sindhu reached the quarterfinals.

He remarked, "Sindhu has nothing left to prove and remains capable of beating any player. Her impressive achievements reflect her high level of play. She is mentally and physically strong, and it’s encouraging to see her regain form over the past few months. Competing on home turf with fan support, I am confident she and our other players will excel."

Mishra also highlighted the potential of the men's doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, to advance far in the tournament. The duo is coming off back-to-back round of 32 finishes in Indonesia and Japan, following their victory at the Singapore Open in May, despite Satwiksairaj's recent injury.

"With the return of former doubles coach Mathias Boe as a consultant alongside head coach Tan Kim Her, their coaching staff has been strengthened. Mathias likely provides mental guidance, while Tan oversees their primary coaching. Satwik and Chirag are a pair that no one can underestimate; they have the potential to become world champions. They faced some injury challenges, but as the coach mentioned, they are now fully fit for the tournament. I believe we will see them at their best," concluded Mishra.