Guwahati will host the India Open Super 750 badminton tournament in 2028, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) confirmed on Sunday, a decision that brings a major international sporting event to Assam for the January slot.
One-year shift from New Delhi due to Republic Day logistics
BAI secretary general Sanjay Mishra said the 2028 edition will be staged in Guwahati from January 25 to 30, 2028. He explained the one-off move was necessitated by the tournament dates clashing with Republic Day security arrangements in the national capital. The tournament is slated to return to New Delhi in 2029.
Guwahati has previously hosted international badminton events and the city’s recent track record was cited by the BAI in its decision. The state capital successfully staged the 2025 BWF World Junior Championships, underscoring Assam’s growing capacity to organise events at this level.
Player concerns over New Delhi January conditions
BAI officials also pointed to longstanding concerns among international players over the India Open’s traditional January–February window in New Delhi. Complaints have included severe winter conditions, poor air quality and low temperatures inside competition venues during January.
- Denmark’s Anders Antonsen has on several occasions skipped the India Open and accepted mandatory fines, citing the conditions.
- To avoid the worst of the winter, the BWF moved the 2027 India Open to February 2–7, though the event will revert to the January window in 2028.
- French mixed doubles pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, after becoming world champions, also called for a scheduling change, saying January conditions affected the experience and quality of competition.
"The 2028 India Open will be held in the last week of January, and 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," Sanjay Mishra said.
Local implications for Guwahati and Assam
The transfer of the India Open to Guwahati for 2028 offers the city and the state of Assam a significant opportunity to showcase facilities and hospitality to international athletes, officials and visiting supporters. While the BAI has not detailed venue arrangements in the announcement, the prior hosting of the 2025 World Junior Championships is likely to feature in assessments of local readiness.
| Event | Dates | 2028 Location |
|---|---|---|
| India Open (Super 750) | 25–30 January 2028 | Guwahati |
| India Open (Super 750) | 2029 (January) | New Delhi (return) |
Officials in Assam may now need to coordinate with the BAI, national sports bodies and local agencies on logistics including venue readiness, accommodation, transport, security and air-quality management. The move also has potential economic implications for hotels, restaurants, transport operators and small businesses that benefit from sporting tourism.
Context in national badminton scheduling
The India Open is a significant stop on the BWF World Tour and attracts top international shuttlers. Concerns raised by players over New Delhi conditions have prompted the BWF and national organisers to experiment with calendar adjustments; nevertheless, the 2028 edition will occupy the January slot and has therefore been relocated for that year.
The BAI praised responses to recent events in New Delhi, noting positive feedback after staging the World Championship. For Guwahati, hosting the 2028 India Open will be an immediate test of Assam’s sporting infrastructure and its ability to welcome and manage a world-class badminton field in winter.
Further details on the venue within Guwahati, ticketing and the full player entry list are expected to be released by the Badminton Association of India in coming months, according to the BAI announcement.
