Despite facing criticism over organizational shortcomings, the India Open has successfully retained its Super 750 status in the Badminton World Federation's (BWF) revamped World Tour calendar for 2027-2030. This confirmation arrived alongside the announcement of significant changes to the BWF's tournament structure, including increased prize money and a greater emphasis on global hosting. While the India Open remains a prominent fixture, the Syed Modi International in Lucknow has been downgraded from a Super 300 to a Super 100 event, and two other Indian tournaments in Guwahati and Odisha have been removed from the calendar.
The decision to maintain the India Open's status as a Super 750 tournament, one of only five such events worldwide, underscores its importance within the international badminton circuit. The tournament, held in New Delhi, was upgraded to Super 750 status in 2023 and will continue to hold its Grade 2, Level 3 standing. However, the 2026 edition of the India Open faced considerable criticism from international players regarding hygiene standards and air quality. Issues such as bird droppings on the courts and the presence of monkeys in the stands prompted the Union Sports Ministry to seek explanations from the organizers.
The BWF's revamped World Tour calendar, set to take effect in 2027, will feature 36 tournaments across six levels. This includes the BWF World Tour Finals, five Super 1000 tournaments, five Super 750 tournaments, nine Super 500 tournaments, eight Super 300 tournaments, and eight Super 100 tournaments. A key element of the revamp is the increase in prize money across all tiers, with Super 1000 events offering USD 2 million, Super 750 events USD 1.1 million, Super 500 events USD 560,000, Super 300 events USD 290,000, and Super 100 events USD 140,000. The annual World Tour prize pool will rise to approximately USD 26.9 million.
In addition to the prize money increases, the BWF is also implementing changes to competition formats. Starting in 2027, the World Championships will incorporate a group stage before the knockout rounds, guaranteeing all players a minimum of two matches. Team events like the Sudirman Cup, Thomas Cup, and Uber Cup will also be expanded to include more countries. According to BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, these changes are designed to build a sport that appeals to the next generation, with every aspect reimagined to meet the demands of a global sport in the 21st century. BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund added that the federation is committed to making competitions more exciting and inclusive.
Despite the positive news for the India Open, the downgrading of the Syed Modi International and the removal of the Guwahati and Odisha events represent a setback for badminton in India. The BWF did not provide specific reasons for these changes. The Syed Modi International, a Super 300 event since 2018, has been a part of the World Tour since 2009 and is named in memory of Commonwealth Games champion Syed Modi. The changes mean that India will now host only two BWF events.