As expected China, the 11-time champions have been given top billing followed by the four-time champions South Korea and Indonesia in the Sudirman Cup badminton mixed team championship to be held from September 26 to October 3 at Vantaa in Finland. Dronacharya awardee and national coach P Gopichand and Badminton Association of India general secretary Ajay Kumar Singhania are happy that action will be back in badminton courts sooner than expected. However, India will host three tournaments – Syed Modi India International, a BWF World Tour Super 300 event, from October 12 – 17 at Lucknow, India Junior International GP from October 14 – 17 at Pune and Infosys Foundation India International Challenge from October 19 – 24 at Bengaluru. The BWF World Junior Championships have been postponed for obvious reasons but the world governing body did not give alternative dates or venues. Meanwhile, the BWF has upgraded the SaarLorLux Open 2021 in Saarbrücken, Germany to Hylo Open, a BWF World Tour Super 500 status and with stopovers in Denmark and France.

Source: Indian Express August 11, 2021 14:03 UTC