Guwahati to Host India Open Badminton
Guwahati is set to host the prestigious India Open Super 750 badminton tournament in 2028, with the event being shifted from New Delhi due to security and logistical challenges linked to Republic Day celebrations.
Badminton Association of India (BAI) secretary general Sanjay Mishra confirmed on Sunday that the 2028 edition will be held in Guwahati from January 25 to 30. The tournament will return to New Delhi in 2029.
“The 2028 India Open will be held in the last week of January, and due to the tournament dates clashing with Republic Day security arrangements in the national capital, we felt that only for that year, we should shift the tournament to Guwahati,” Mishra told reporters.
Guwahati has already demonstrated its ability to host major international badminton events, having successfully staged the 2025 BWF World Junior Championships.
The decision also comes amid growing concerns among international players over the India Open’s traditional January-February window in New Delhi. Several top shuttlers have criticised the severe winter conditions, including poor air quality and cold temperatures inside the competition venue.
Denmark’s Anders Antonsen has repeatedly skipped the India Open and accepted mandatory fines, while urging the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to reconsider the tournament’s scheduling.
The BWF had moved the 2027 India Open to February 2-7 in an effort to avoid the harshest winter conditions in New Delhi. However, the tournament is scheduled to return to the January window in 2028.
French mixed doubles pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, who became the first French badminton players to win a world championship title on Sunday, also called for the India Open to be held at a different time of the year.
Gicquel said the conditions in January affected the experience and quality of competition, particularly because of the cold and air quality in New Delhi.
With Guwahati confirmed as the 2028 venue, Assam is set to receive a major international sporting showcase, bringing some of the world’s leading badminton players to the city.
