The BWF has decided to postpone the upcoming World Badminton Championships in Spain from August to the window of November 29 to December 5 so they don't run concurrently with the Olympic Games.
According to a joint announcement from the BWF and the Spanish Badminton Federation (FESBA), the tournament originally slated for August 2021 has been rescheduled for the end of the year, specifically from Monday, Nov 29 to Sunday, Dec 5.
Normally, the World Championships are an annual fixture except during Olympic years. However, due to the pandemic-induced delay of the Tokyo 2020 Games, 2021 will be the first time both prestigious competitions are held in the same calendar year.
The BWF explained that once the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were officially set for July 23 through September 5, 2021, the decision to move the World Championships became inevitable.
Poul-Erik Hyer, President of the BWF, noted that moving the event to late November serves the sport's best interests. He believes this change ensures that both the Olympics and the World Championships are contested on a level and fair playing field for all athletes.
“BWF and Spanish Badminton Federation are confident that the rescheduled championships will be a success. The move allows both the Olympic badminton competition and the World Championships to be conducted with equal fairness for everyone,” Hyer said.
This scheduling change ensures that current champion P V Sindhu will have the opportunity to defend her title at the Carolina Marin Stadium in Huelva, Spain—a venue named after the legendary three-time world champion. David Cabello, president of FESBA, shared his hope that the event in Huelva will be a landmark moment for global and Spanish badminton.
FESBA president David Cabello said: “We hope the World Championships in Huelva will be a special occasion for badminton in Spain and the world.
Cabello added that shifting the tournament to the year's end provides the best possible framework to host a high-quality competition.
Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 and millions of infections globally, the BWF had previously put all tournaments on hold until late July.
Additionally, the governing body froze the world rankings, deciding that the standings from March 17 would be used for seeding and entry once international play resumed.
The BWF further mentioned that the rest of the 2021 schedule is still being worked out, and they will soon provide updates regarding the qualification paths for the Olympics, Paralympics, and World Championships.
At the previous championships in Switzerland, Sindhu took home the gold, while B Sai Praneeth secured a bronze, marking the first time in 36 years an Indian male player reached the podium.