The India Open, held in Delhi and upgraded to Tremendous 750 standing in 2023, will proceed to carry its Grade 2, Degree 3 standing.
IMAGE: India’s Kidambi Srikanth in motion throughout the India Open 2026, which got here below fireplace for a number of organisational points. {Photograph}: Bhawika Chhabra/Reuters
Key Factors
- The Badminton World Federation has introduced a significant restructuring of the worldwide calendar from 2027.
- India Open retained its Tremendous 750 standing however the Syed Modi Worldwide was downgraded from Tremendous 300 to Tremendous 100.
- Underneath the brand new construction, the BWF World Tour will comprise 36 tournaments throughout six tiers.
- The whole annual prize pool on the World Tour will rise to roughly $26.9 million.
The India Open retained its Tremendous 750 standing regardless of the organisational points this yr however the Syed Modi Worldwide was downgraded from Tremendous 300 to Tremendous 100 because the nation noticed its share of occasions diminished from 4 to 2 within the Badminton World Federation’s revamped schedule introduced on Monday.
The occasions axed from the calendar are Tremendous 100 tournaments in Guwahati and Odisha which had been launched in 2023.
The Syed Modi Worldwide, which is held in Lucknow in reminiscence of Commonwealth Video games champion Syed Modi, has been a World Tour Tremendous 300 occasion since 2018.
Launched again in 2009 as a Grand Prix occasion, it is going to be one of many eight Tremendous 100 tournaments on the circuit from subsequent yr.
BWF provides no particular causes
The world physique didn’t specify the explanations for downgrading Syed Modi or omitting the tournaments in Odisha and Guwahati.
The India Open, held in Delhi and upgraded to Tremendous 750 standing in 2023, will proceed to carry its Grade 2, Degree 3 standing. It’ll stay one of many 5 Tremendous 750 tournaments within the new 2027-30 cycle.
The match had come below fireplace this yr when a number of organisational points similar to cleanliness had been identified by worldwide opponents.
Underneath the brand new construction, the BWF World Tour will comprise 36 tournaments throughout six tiers — the World Tour Finals, 5 Tremendous 1000 occasions, 5 Tremendous 750, 9 Tremendous 500, eight Tremendous 300 and eight Tremendous 100 tournaments, with Tremendous 100 occasions being built-in into the principle tour for the primary time.
One of many main adjustments is the growth of Tremendous 1000 tournaments from 4 to 5 starting with the 2027–2030 cycle.
These elite occasions shall be held throughout Asia and Europe, that includes 48 gamers in singles by way of group and knockout phases, whereas doubles competitions may have 32-pair knockout attracts.
Every Tremendous 1000 match will run for 11 days throughout two weekends, with all 1,095 matches broadcast globally.
The BWF stated the overall annual prize pool on the World Tour will rise to roughly $26.9 million.
“Prize cash throughout classes will improve to $2 million for Tremendous 1000 tournaments, $1.1 million for Tremendous 750, $560,000 for Tremendous 500, $290,000 for Tremendous 300 and $140,000 for Tremendous 100 occasions,” it acknowledged.
New format for World Championship
From 2027, the World Championships will introduce a group-stage section adopted by knockouts to make sure each participant competes in no less than two matches. The Sudirman Cup Finals and the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals may also increase to incorporate extra groups, enhancing world illustration.
The venue for the World Tour Finals shall be introduced later.
Aiming to speed up the game’s world progress, the BWF additionally prolonged its long-term broadcast and industrial partnership with Infront by way of to 2034 final yr.
Underneath the brand new framework, the variety of TV-produced badminton matches will double from 1,410 to roughly 3,000 throughout all BWF tournaments.
“We’re constructing a sport that speaks to the following technology. Each ingredient, from competitors codecs with elevated prize cash, to broadcast technique and sponsorship worth chains, has been reimagined to satisfy the calls for of a really world sport within the twenty first century,” BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul stated in a launch.
Give attention to gamers
BWF Secretary Normal Thomas Lund stated the adjustments place gamers on the centre of the ecosystem.
“Our focus is on constructing a future-ready framework that drives sustainable progress and amplifies badminton’s world attain. Collectively BWF and Infront are serving extra drama, extra alternatives for gamers, and a richer expertise for followers and broadcasters alike.
“This transfer reinforces badminton’s place as a globally aggressive and commercially enticing sport, whereas underscoring our dedication to place gamers on the coronary heart of the sport, guaranteeing honest rewards and sustaining their long-term participation on the highest degree.”
