Maintenance staff clean up ‘bird droppings’ during the men’s singles match between HS Prannoy of India and Loh Kean Yew of Singapore at the India Open 2026 badminton tournament in New Delhi. (PTI Photo) India’s presence in the global badminton calendar has become a hit in the revamped Badminton World Federation (BWF) schedule. While the India Open in New Delhi has retained its Super 750 status despite recent organizational complaints, the Syed Modi International in Lucknow has been upgraded from a Super 300 to a Super 100 tournament. Two other Indian events in Guwahati and Odisha were also axed, reducing the number of BWF Indian events from four to two. The BWF did not explain why these tournaments were downgraded or cancelled.
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The India Open will continue as one of the top Super 750 tournaments in the 2027-2030 cycle, even after criticism over issues such as cleanliness raised by players this year. Meanwhile, the Syed Modi tournament, which has been part of the World Tour since 2018 and started in 2009, will now be among the lowest level events on the circuit.The BWF also announced a major overhaul of its World Tour structure, which will include 36 tournaments at six levels, with prize money growing to around $26.9 million per year. Prizes will increase at all levels, with Super 1000 events offering $2 million and Super 100 events offering $140,000.Federations are also changing formats to make competitions exciting and inclusive. From 2027, the World Cup will have a pre-elimination group stage, ensuring all players play at least two matches, while team events such as the Sudirman, Thomas and Uber Cup will expand to include other countries.“We are building a sport that speaks to the next generation. Every element, from competition formats with increased winnings, to broadcast strategy and sponsorship value chains, has been redesigned to meet the demands of a truly global sport in the 21st century,” said BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul.BWF General Secretary Thomas Lund added that the changes aim to put the players first: “Our aim is to build a future-proof framework that drives sustainable growth and strengthens badminton’s global reach… This move strengthens badminton’s position as a globally competitive and commercially attractive sport, while underlining our commitment to putting players at the heart of the game, ensuring long-term fair rewards and keeping their participation at a fair level.”
