Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Association of India (BAI) have signed an agreement for New Delhi to host next year’s Thomas and Uber Cups – the first-ever time India will stage the event.

To be held at the Siri Fort Indoor Stadium – venue of the ongoing India Open 2013 – the Thomas and Uber Cups will be held from 18 to 25 May 2014.

BWF Deputy President Paisan Rangsikitpho and BAI President Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta recently signed the agreement. Also present were BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund and BAI General Secretary Vijai Sinha.

“India are no strangers to hosting world-class badminton events having hosted the World Championships in 2009, the World Junior Championships in 2008 and the Commonwealth Games in 2010. This is also the third year India are hosting a leg of the BWF World Superseries,” noted Rangsikitpho.

“Badminton is also developing at a rapid pace in India with many players making their mark on the international stage and we are happy to award the hosting rights to India.”

Das Gupta, the President of BAI, was confident of hosting a world-class event.

“I remember the first time we held the India Open, there were a few shortcomings. Now we are at a high level, we are confident that we can host any of the highest-level competitions.”

The Thomas and Uber Cups are the world men’s and women’s team championships. India has hosted the Asian Zone competitions a few times, but has never hosted the finals. The Thomas Cup began in 1948-49, and India was one of the few countries that were part of the inaugural tournament.

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PHOTO (BWF HOME PAGE – LEFT TO RIGHT): Vijai Sinha (General Secretary, BAI), Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta (President, BAI) and Paisan Rangsikitpho (BWF Deputy President).

Text by Badminton World Federation