The Badminton Association of India hopes to make country the first choice for first-class events

According to DNA India, "The Badminton Association of India (BAI) is hoping to make the country the first choice destination of world-class events and wants to use the upcoming Asia championship here to achieve its goal."

"ndia will host the Yonex-Sunrise Badminton Asia Championship here from April 12 to 18, in which 334 players from 21 countries are set to participate. Thrice world champion Lin Dan of China and former Olympic gold winner Taufiq Hidayat of Indonesia in the men’s section, and Chinese world champion Lu Lan and Indonesian Olympic bronze winner Maria Kristin Yulianti in the women’s section, will be among those in the fray."

This is encouraging news for the badminton, because it shows that developing countries such as India, are starting to recognise and promote the sport Badminton and with a financially-growing country like India to shows its support for badminton will hopefully raise its stature and profile in the world. Badminton is already popular in several Asian and European countries, but it is always exciting and refreshing to see more countries showing ambition in the sport. Hopefully other countries will follow suit and one day Badminton will reach heights where it can finally reach the same stage as tennis when it comes to the media exposure, profile and prize money. ;)