BWF chief praises India for hosting world badminton championship

BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul praised India for successfully hosting the World Badminton Championship in Delhi, highlighting the efforts of the government, organisers, volunteers, officials, sponsors and fans. She also lauded the facilities and the warm reception given to players

Hyderabad: “The Badminton Association of India hosted the World Badminton Championship in Delhi and held everything together over many months, from the first day to the last. The Government of India believed in this event. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports drove it forward. The Sports Authority of India delivered the arena,” Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, BWF President, said in a statement on Sunday.

“The arena deserves a word of its own. Under a demanding timeline, India built a facility worthy of badminton’s biggest stage. Our volunteers gave countless days with a smile. Our technical officials worked long hours, calm, professional and full of pride. Much of what they did happened far from the cameras, and none of this could have happened without them,” the BWF chief said.

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“Our sponsors and partners deserve sincere gratitude. They believed in these championships before anyone could see what they would become. Badminton stands on that trust,” the BWF official said.

“From the opening day to the final match, schedules held and the competition met the highest international standards. Behind every rally, our integrity work continued out of sight, as it must. Through our broadcasters, the drama of this week travelled into hundreds of millions of homes,” the top official said.

“The players came first, and it showed. Good hotels, reliable transport and facilities that allowed them to prepare in peace. Players and team officials praised our courts, our conditions and everything around them. That matters more than anything,” the BWF chief said.

“Congratulations in advance to all our champions. Your performances have been exceptional all week. And a special word to our runners-up, and to all those who helped create some of the great storylines of these championships,” the BWF president said.

“Away from the court, families found comfort here, and children discovered a sport they may love for life. A host is judged by who it thinks about, and this host thought about everyone,” she said.

“People keep asking how I would sum up this week. Here is my answer. I am proud of the fans in India, who know this sport and cheer with real knowledge. And I am proud of a country that opened its heart to the world.”

“Yet beyond the medals and the matches, I will remember the children most. Many of them came to see the finest players in the world. Some held a racket for the first time. One or two may return one day to collect a medal of their own.”