Guwahati to Host India Open 2028 as Republic Day Security Forces Delhi Switch

The 2028 India Open Super 750 badminton tournament will be held in Guwahati instead of New Delhi, as the Badminton Association of India (BAI) seeks to avoid a clash with Republic Day security arrangements in the capital. Scheduled for January 25 to 30, 2028, the tournament falls during a period of heightened security and logistical restrictions around January 26. BAI Secretary General Sanjay Mishra confirmed that the event will return to New Delhi in 2029.

The decision creates a temporary break from the tournament's traditional Delhi home. Mishra said the January 25–30 window would make player movement, practice and tournament operations difficult in the capital because of Republic Day preparations. The 2027 edition will still be held in Delhi from February 2 to 7, after the BWF moved it away from the harshest part of winter. The tournament will then shift to Guwahati in 2028 before returning to Delhi in 2029.

The venue change comes amid growing criticism of the India Open's January-February scheduling. Danish star Anders Antonsen has repeatedly questioned playing in Delhi during winter because of severe air pollution, saying poor air quality can affect players' health and performance. He has previously skipped the event despite mandatory fines and urged the BWF to consider a different window.

The concerns have also been echoed by French mixed-doubles champions Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, who called for the India Open to be moved to another time of year. However, the 2028 relocation is primarily a response to Republic Day logistics, rather than a permanent solution to the winter-weather debate.

For Guwahati, the move represents a major opportunity. The city successfully hosted the 2025 BWF World Junior Championships, giving it recent experience in staging a major international badminton event. The India Open's arrival will further strengthen Assam's credentials as a destination for global badminton.

BAI is also pursuing a wider international-hosting ambition, having bid to stage the 2028 Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in New Delhi. With Delhi in 2027, Guwahati in 2028 and Delhi again in 2029, the India Open's temporary relocation balances Republic Day security requirements with Guwahati's growing sporting profile, even as questions over the tournament's winter calendar remain unresolved.