NEW DELHI — The 2028 edition of the prestigious India Open Super 750 badminton tournament will temporarily move away from the capital city and be hosted in Guwahati, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) announced on Sunday.

Addressing reporters, BAI Secretary General Sanjay Mishra explained that the schedule for the 2028 tournament directly overlaps with strict security operations and logistical restrictions in New Delhi ahead of India’s Republic Day celebrations.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) had temporarily adjusted the India Open to a February 2–7 window for the 2027 season to bypass New Delhi’s extreme winter conditions, before placing the 2028 event back into its traditional late-January slot from January 25 to 30.

"The 2028 India Open will be held in the last week of January," Mishra stated. "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. It will return to New Delhi in 2029."

Winter Weather Concerns and Player Backlash

The tournament’s late-January timeframe in New Delhi has drawn criticism from world-class shuttlers in recent years. Top international players, including Denmark’s Anders Antonsen, have publicly complained about severe winter air pollution and frigid indoor stadium conditions in the capital, with Antonsen opting to forfeit mandatory BWF fines rather than compete under those conditions.

Following their recent championship victory, newly crowned French mixed doubles World Champions Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue also voiced support for altering the tournament schedule, noting that cold indoor air quality during January degraded match play.

Guwahati, which previously hosted the 2025 World Junior Championships, is seen as a well-equipped alternative capable of hosting elite international competition without the security bottlenecks of the capital.

India Bids for 2028 Thomas and Uber Cup

Beyond the venue change, the BAI revealed ambitious plans for bringing more high-profile international events to the country. Mishra confirmed that India has submitted an official bid to host the 2028 Thomas and Uber Cup competitions.

"We have bid for the tournament in 2028 and we are hopeful that we will get it after the World Championships," Mishra noted, adding that while other countries remain in contention, India stands in a strong position.

The announcement came alongside glowing praise from BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, who commended India’s successful hosting of the BWF World Championships 2026, pointing to strong government backing, premier facilities provided by the Sports Authority of India, and enthusiastic local fan support.