India Open badminton tournament retains status despite criticism as BWF releases updated schedule | Badminton News – The Times of India

India’s presence in the global badminton calendar has taken a hit in the Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) revamped 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 downgraded from a Super 300 event to a Super 100 tournament. Two other Indian events in Guwahati and Odisha have also been removed, reducing the number of BWF events in India from four to two. The BWF did not explain why these tournaments were downgraded or canceled.

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 expressed 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.BWF also announced a major overhaul of its World Tour structure, which will include 36 tournaments across six levels, with prize money increasing to approximately $26.9 million annually. Prize money will increase at all levels, with Super 1000 events offering $2 million and Super 100 events $140,000.The federation is also changing formats to make competitions more exciting and inclusive. From 2027, the World Championships will feature a group stage before the knockouts, giving all players a minimum of two matches, while team events such as the Sudirman, Thomas and Uber Cups will be expanded to more countries.“We are building a sport that appeals to the next generation. Every element, from competition formats with increased prize money 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 Secretary General Thomas Lund added that the changes aim to put players first: “Our focus is on building a future-proof framework that drives sustainable growth and extends badminton’s global reach… This move strengthens badminton’s position as a globally competitive and commercially attractive sport, while underscoring our commitment to putting players at the heart of the game, ensuring fair rewards and sustaining their participation at the highest level in the long term.”