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India Open 2026 to be held at IG Indoor Stadium
DELHI: The Yonex-Sunrise India Open is getting a bigger stage and a louder crowd. India’s premier international badminton tournament returns from January 13 to 18, 2026, shifting to New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium and signalling a clear upgrade in scale, ambition and fan experience.
With a seating capacity of more than 8,000, over twice that of the previous venue, the move reflects the tournament’s rising stature on the global badminton calendar and India’s growing pull as a host destination.
Tickets for the Super 750 event go on sale online via Ticmint, starting at Rs 400, with premium seats capped at Rs 1,750. Early buyers are being sweetened with phased promotions, including discounts of up to 50 per cent for those who book early, making access broad-based even as the event grows bigger.
Organised by the Badminton Association of India under the aegis of the Badminton World Federation, the India Open will once again draw the sport’s elite to Indian courts. Fans can expect to see An Se-young, PV Sindhu, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, Lakshya Sen, alongside emerging Indian talents such as Unnati Hooda and Ayush Shetty, across six days of high-intensity competition.
General secretary of Badminton Association of India, Sanjay Mishra, says the shift marks a turning point. Moving to the IG Indoor Stadium, he notes, allows the tournament to host far more fans while delivering a stronger on-ground experience for players and spectators. As Indian badminton grows in stature, he says, its flagship events must evolve with it.
The ticketing window has been structured in phases. The first, running until the end of December, offers the steepest discounts across matchdays, including knockout rounds. Subsequent phases in early January will continue to offer reduced pricing, keeping the finals within reach for late deciders.
Ticmint, the tournament’s ticketing partner, will manage the event through its full-stack, technology-led platform, offering secure transactions, instant confirmations, multiple payment options and real-time updates, aiming to smooth access for fans at scale.
A marquee stop on the BWF World Tour, the Yonex-Sunrise India Open offers up to 11,000 ranking points and a total prize purse of $950,000. With a larger venue, sharper ticketing and a world-class field, the 2026 edition is shaping up to be louder, fuller and harder to ignore.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
