8,000 Fans Fill IGI Stadium As Delhi Embraces BWF World Championships

Around 8,000 fans packed the Indira Gandhi Stadium on Saturday as the BWF World Championships turned into a lively badminton carnival, challenging doubts over Delhi’s interest in the sport. Fans arrived with handmade banners, chants and drums, supporting both Indian and international players. World No. 1 An Se Young received a particularly warm reception, with young supporters waiting to catch a glimpse of the South Korean star as she made her way towards the court. Her victory over Wang Zhi Yi further energised the packed arena.

The crowd’s strongest connection, however, came with India’s women’s doubles pair Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly. After several leading Indian players, including PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, failed to reach the weekend, Gayatri and Treesa emerged as the home favourites. The pair defeated seventh seeds Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi before overcoming fourth seeds Jia Yifan and Zhang Shu Xian. Against top seeds Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning, they won the opening game 21-18 before eventually losing the contest, but received a standing ovation from the crowd.

The response showed that spectators had not come only to watch India’s biggest badminton stars. Fans also adopted international players during the tournament, including Canada’s Victor Lai, France’s Alex Lanier and veteran Chinese Taipei shuttler Chou Tien Chen. Chou, aged 36, attracted considerable support as he became the oldest men’s singles medallist in World Championships history. Young spectators also arrived carrying banners for their favourite players, reflecting how major tournaments can inspire the next generation to take up the sport themselves.

Also Read: Unnati Hooda Beats Thet Htar Thuzar in BWF World Championships Opener

For many spectators, the championship was also an opportunity to experience badminton at a level rarely seen in the capital. Gumli, a civil engineering student from Arunachal Pradesh studying in Chandigarh, travelled to Delhi specifically for the tournament. He watched An Se Young before staying for the men’s doubles semi-final involving Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae. Although his preferred pair eventually lost to Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, the experience remained worthwhile. Such journeys highlighted the nationwide interest generated by India hosting the World Championships for the first time in 17 years.

The strong attendance also answered questions that had surrounded Delhi before the tournament. The venue had previously faced criticism during the India Open over cleanliness, hygiene and other issues, while concerns about the capital’s air quality had also raised doubts. Organisers subsequently transformed the venue, earning a positive response from the Badminton World Federation. More importantly, the crowd demonstrated that Delhi could support badminton beyond matches featuring its most famous Indian players.

The Badminton Association of India now hopes the tournament can strengthen Delhi’s case for hosting future major events. BAI General Secretary Sanjay Misra said the atmosphere had provided confidence about staging more international competitions in the country. The association has already bid to host the 2028 Thomas and Uber Cup, with Delhi among the possible venues. The World Championships ultimately delivered a clear message: Delhi’s sporting audience can turn up not only for star names but also for the sport itself, giving badminton a major boost in the capital.

Also Read: BWF Confident In Upgraded World Championships Venue After India Open Row