BAI revamped stadium for World Badminton Championships in India after 17 years

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) successfully hosted the BWF World Championships in New Delhi after 17 years, having renovated the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium based on lessons from the India Open held earlier this year. BAI secretary Sanjay Mishra told Hindustan Times that over 3,000 workers spent six months overhauling toilets, lighting, and landscaping, including a lake with a fountain. Overseas players praised the court conditions and revamped facilities.

Mishra said the semi-finals and finals tickets are sold out via BookMyShow, and fan engagement includes food courts. He acknowledged that badminton's attendance still lags behind cricket but said the BWF must help promote the sport. The World Championships marks the largest non-cricket global event hosted in India recently, and Mishra rated the organisation as meeting international standards, with no identified areas for immediate improvement.