New Delhi: In 50 days, the best badminton players in the world will march into the Indira Gandhi (IG) Indoor Stadium in New Delhi to compete in the BWF World Championships from August 17 to 23, returning to Indian soil for the first time since Hyderabad hosted the event in 2009. This is much more than just another major event for our country’s badminton sport. It’s a celebration of an extraordinary journey.Seventeen years ago, when Hyderabad hosted the World Championships, Indian badminton largely revolved around one name – Saina Nehwal. An Olympic medal remains a dream and a world title seems far away for a 14-year-old Sindhu Optoelectronics Training quietly at Prela Gopichand Academy.Few could have predicted the transformation that would follow.The breakthrough came in 2011 when Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa won the women’s doubles bronze medal, ending India’s 28-year wait for a world medal. This result changed people’s views and marked the arrival of a new force in world badminton.And then the milestones quickly followed. Saina became India’s first world silver medalist and the country’s first women’s world number one. Sindhu took Indian badminton to another level, winning five world medals before making history in Basel in 2019 by becoming the country’s first world champion.But India’s rise is no longer a matter of one or two stars.Kidabi Srikanth Reaching the top spot in the world, Laksha Sen won the world bronze medal, HS Pranoi to reach the podium in 2023, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty Become one of the top men’s doubles teams in the world. In 2022, India won the Thomas Cup, becoming the sixth country to win the honour.The numbers tell the story of this transformation: India has won 14 world medals since 2011 and has been on the podium at every World Championships until 2025 – a remarkable 11-time medal streak.For Xindu, the return of the World Series to India has special meaning. “Some of my most memorable moments and proudest achievements have occurred on this stage,” she told The Times of India. “Holding the World Championships again after 17 years is a landmark moment and reflects the progress the sport has made in our country.”Sen believes playing at home brings a different energy. “Badminton in India has grown tremendously over the years and hosting the World Badminton Championships after 17 years is a proud moment for everyone associated with the sport,” he told the publication. For young player Ayush Shetty, who is about to make his World Championship debut, this opportunity is a dream come true. “Growing up, the World Championships was one of the events I always looked forward to watching. Like every young badminton player, I dreamed of one day getting the chance to compete on this stage. To make my debut at the World Championships when India hosts the event after 17 years is very special,” he said.Ponnappa, who competed in the 2009 event and later became part of India’s historic bronze-medal breakthrough in 2011, believes the event reflects the evolution of the sport. “Badminton in India has grown by leaps and bounds since then. This is a huge opportunity for our players and a special opportunity for the fans to watch the best competition in the world at home,” she said.Pranoy clearly remembers watching football stars in Hyderabad in 2009 and hopes New Delhi can inspire the next generation. “I believe this year’s Worlds will provide the same incredible experience for young players and make many of them dream of pursuing this sport,” he said.From a numerical perspective— 14Number of World Championship medals won by India (2011-2025)— 11Won at least one Indian medal in consecutive editions (2011-2025)— 1world championPV Sindhu (2019) – India’s first and only world champion.— 3India ranks first in the worldSaina Nehwal (women’s singles)Kidambi Srikanth (men’s singles)Satwikseraj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (men’s doubles)— 2011A landmark year for Indian badmintonJwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa won the bronze medal in women’s doubles, ending India’s 28-year wait for a medal at the World Championships.— 18 yearsSindhu becomes India’s youngest world championship medalist(Bronze Medal, 2013)— 31 yearsHS Pranoy becomes India’s oldest first-time World Championships medalist(Bronze, 2023)–17 yearsWorld Championships return to India after 17 yearsFrom Hyderabad 2009 to New Delhi 2026
