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Badminton Association of India (BAI) General Secretary Sanjay Mishra on Sunday said the successful hosting of the BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi exceeded expectations and received positive feedback from players, officials and the international badminton community.
Speaking to ANI, Mishra credited the collective efforts of BAI, the Sports Ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for delivering a successful tournament, saying even BWF officials appreciated the organisation and execution of the event. "Considering the hard work put in by us, our team, the sports ministry, and SAI over the last six months, we were confident it would go well. However, exceeding expectations to this extent wasn't something even I anticipated," Mishra told ANI. "Even BWF Secretary Thomas Lund remarked that it went beyond expectations. He mentioned that while on the flight to India, he didn't quite know what to expect, but the event truly surpassed expectations," he added. Addressing concerns raised before the tournament regarding hospitality and facilities, Mishra said the event received appreciation from players, coaches, officials and support staff. "Not only players, but officials, coaches, team support staff, referees, and everyone else--I don't think there was any negativity during this tournament. BWF's feedback was that we elevated this to a level where the next World Championship hosts will find it difficult to maintain this standard," he said. Speaking about India's performance at the championship, Mishra said the country has several players capable of competing for major titles but acknowledged the challenges of consistently winning medals in individual events. "We have about 8 to 10 players who are capable of reaching the finals or winning major global tournaments. However, in individual badminton events, consistently winning or performing exceptionally well every time is simply not possible," he said. Mishra also praised the performance of women's doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who impressed with their run at the tournament and clinching historic bronze. "Regarding Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, I believe that prior to the tournament starting, nobody expected this level of performance from them, especially since they hadn't performed much over the last eight months due to injuries. But they performed extraordinarily well, proving that this is truly their level," he added. "They are fully capable of performing at this high standard. Everyone knows about Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu. These are players who can deliver podium finishes for us at any time," Mishra said. On India's bid to host the Thomas and Uber Cup, Mishra confirmed that BAI has submitted a proposal and expressed confidence after successfully conducting the World Championships. "We have placed a bid. Given how successfully we have conducted this event, I believe the BWF will view our bid very positively, and we are hopeful of securing it," he said. (ANI)
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