Tickets introduced at India Open with eyes on 2026 World C'ships: BAI

Delhi: The India Open Super 750 has introduced a paid online ticketing system for the first time in the tournament's history.

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has so far hosted the premier badminton event with free entry for fans but has now introduced a ticketing system this year as part of its plans.

BWF mandate

India will be hosting the 2026 Badminton World Championships and the guidelines of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) mandate paid ticketing for the fans.

"We will be hosting the 2026 Badminton World Championships and the plan is to tap into the large fanbase of badminton with his move," Sanjay Mishra, Secretary of the Badminton Association of India, told The Bridge in an exclusive conversation.

"BWF mandates paid ticketing for fans during World Championships. So the plan to introduce it during the India Open is part of our plans," he added further.

BAI has partnered with Ticmint as the ticketing platform and close to 3,000 tickets have been sold for the first day of the event.

"We want to use this opportunity to see how this system works and how the fans respond to this," said Mishra.

"This experience will help us in learning from our mistakes to be ready for the World Championships."

"A lot of times what happens is that free passes are wasted when fans don't turn up but if someone buys tickets, that means they are going to turn (up) for sure," he explained further.

Tickets are available for the lowest denomination of INR 200 and more fans are expected to turn up during the weekends, when the semi-finals and finals of the 2025 India Open will be played at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall.