The 2028 India Open badminton tournament will be held in Guwahati instead of New Delhi, marking a major development for badminton in Assam and the wider Northeast. The Badminton Association of India has confirmed that the prestigious BWF Super 750 event will move to Guwahati for one edition before returning to the national capital in 2029.
The tournament is scheduled for the last week of January 2028. According to BAI secretary general Sanjay Mishra, the dates coincide with the heightened security arrangements associated with the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. As a result, the association decided to shift the event to Guwahati for that year only. The 2027 edition will continue to be held in Delhi, while the tournament is scheduled to return to the capital in 2029.
The decision has generated considerable interest in Assam because hosting an international event of the India Open's stature could raise the profile of the state's badminton infrastructure and provide local players with an opportunity to compete on home territory.
Guwahati already has a significant connection with badminton administration and training. Assam has hosted national and international badminton competitions in the past, and the development of badminton facilities in the city has received support from the state's sporting administration. Historical Badminton Association of India material has also recorded the role of Omar Rashid and other Assam badminton officials in developing a modern badminton facility in Guwahati.
The proposed venue for the tournament is the National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati, according to reports surrounding the event. Hosting the India Open at a high level training and competition facility could help showcase Assam's capacity to stage major international sporting events.
The tournament is one of the leading events on the BWF World Tour. Its presence in Guwahati is expected to attract some of the world's best badminton players and provide Indian audiences in the Northeast with an opportunity to watch elite international competition.
The relocation could also be important for young badminton players from Assam. Competing or training in the same environment as leading international players can provide local athletes with greater exposure to the standards, intensity and professionalism of elite badminton.
Assam has produced players and badminton administrators who have contributed to the sport at the national level. A high profile tournament in Guwahati could encourage greater participation among young athletes and potentially strengthen the state's badminton development programme.
The event may also create wider benefits beyond the badminton court. Major international tournaments can increase visitor numbers, create opportunities for local businesses and provide visibility for the host city. Hotels, transport operators, restaurants and other services can benefit when players, officials, fans and media travel to the city.
For Assam, the India Open could therefore become both a sporting event and an opportunity to showcase Guwahati as a capable host for international competitions.
Assam Badminton Association honorary general secretary Omar Rashid has acknowledged the support of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also president of the Badminton Association of India, in the development of badminton in the state. However, the official announcement of the 2028 tournament relocation was made by BAI secretary general Sanjay Mishra, who cited Delhi's Republic Day security arrangements as the reason for the temporary move.
The decision is also significant because the India Open had been affected by discussions over venue and scheduling issues in recent years. The 2027 edition has already been moved to February, with the tournament scheduled in Delhi from February 2 to 7. The 2028 event is expected to return to the January window before moving back to Delhi in 2029.
The Badminton World Federation's calendar remains an important factor in determining the tournament schedule. BAI has indicated that the 2028 relocation is a one year arrangement rather than a permanent change of venue.
The tournament could also help accelerate interest in badminton across northeastern India. Young athletes from Assam and neighbouring states would have the opportunity to watch leading players without travelling to northern or southern parts of the country.
The presence of a BWF Super 750 tournament could inspire badminton academies and clubs in the region to expand training programmes and encourage more children to take up the sport.
For the national badminton programme, staging the tournament in Guwahati would also provide an opportunity to expand the geographic reach of top level badminton events in India. While New Delhi remains the regular host, a temporary move to another major city could demonstrate the potential for other regions to organise international competitions.
The 2028 India Open is therefore expected to be an important milestone for Assam. It will bring a globally recognised badminton event to Guwahati, create opportunities for spectators and local players and increase national attention on the state's sporting infrastructure.
For now, the relocation is confirmed as a one year decision. The 2028 tournament will be held in Guwahati because of the clash with Republic Day security arrangements in Delhi, and the India Open is scheduled to return to New Delhi in 2029.