KUALA LUMPUR: India on Friday won the bid to stage the 2009 World Badminton Championship, paving the way for the country to host its first-ever World Championship in an Olympic sport.
India won the bid after the International Badminton Federation (IBF) decided in New Delhi’s favour at its council meeting here. Denmark and Macau, who were also in the race to host the championship, withdrew their candidature in favour of India.
“It will be the first ever World Championship (except cricket) given to India to host in all Olympic sports put together,” an elated VK Verma, president of the Badminton Association of India and also a vice-president of the IBF, said.
Verma said the unanimous decision was taken by the IBF, which has 160 member countries, after a presentation by India highlighting the country’s tourist attractions, its economic strength, its population base for such events, the proven credibility of Indian establishment and the government’s full support for hosting a competition of such magnitude.
The championship is held annually and the hosts are announced four years in advance. More than 500 sportsmen from 50 countries will take part in the championship, scheduled for September 2009.
