New Delhi, July 18 -- Former national champion and Dhyan Chand Awardee Trupti Murgunde called India hosting the 2026 BWF World Badminton Championships a proud moment for both the badminton community and Indian sports.

Recalling the 2009 edition in Hyderabad, she said the tournament reflected India's growing stature in world badminton, remembering how even Chinese players had begun taking notice of Indian stars such as Saina Nehwal and others.

Scheduled from August 17 to August 23 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the Championships will feature participation from over 55+ countries with nearly 800 players, marking the event's return to India after 17 years and its first-ever staging in the national capital.

"I think it's absolutely a...