The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has signed a major cooperation agreement with the city of Qingdao in East China’s Shandong Province to build the BWF Qingdao International Exchange Center and the BWF Museum. The goal is to promote global badminton development and foster cultural exchange.
Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, recently elected as the new BWF president during the 2025 Sudirman Cup Finals in Xiamen, described China as a key partner in the sport’s global future.
“China has one of the best badminton systems in the world,” said Khunying, who is from Thailand and only the second woman to lead the BWF. “Its player development, sports facilities, and support networks can serve as a model for other countries.”
She emphasized that by learning from China’s success—especially in grassroots programs, talent development, facility management, and sports science—badminton can grow stronger worldwide.
Qingdao Project to Become Global Platform
The new Qingdao center is being designed as a global hub for athletes, coaches, referees, and fans. It will promote training, knowledge sharing, and cultural interaction at both local and international levels. The core complex has already been built and is now in the final stages of interior work, exhibition setup, and artifact collection.
Spanning 50,000 square meters, the campus will have five main areas. The museum will collect, preserve, and showcase the rich history of badminton. It aims to boost global interest in the sport through exhibitions and public education.
“This center reflects our vision of global cooperation and inclusive development,” Khunying said. “It will create new opportunities for badminton across Asia and the world.”
China’s Role in Global Badminton
Zhang Jun, president of the Chinese Badminton Association, said the new facility will be a major platform for international exchange and will help introduce badminton’s history to young people. He hopes the center will attract more youth from around the world to the sport.
China recently won the 2025 Sudirman Cup in Xiamen, beating South Korea 3-1 in the final. This marks China’s fourth consecutive title and 14th overall in the mixed-team world championship. China also hosted the 2023 Sudirman Cup in Suzhou and the 2024 Thomas & Uber Cup in Chengdu, showing its strength in organizing major events.
“China continues to deliver world-class tournaments,” said Zhang. “Their successful model offers great inspiration that other countries can learn from.”
China’s national team in Xiamen featured experienced players like men’s singles star Shi Yuqi and rising talent Wang Zhiyi in the women’s singles.
Khunying added that China’s current and retired top players can play key roles in promoting badminton around the world.
Testing a New Scoring System
Since April, the BWF has been testing a new 3×15 scoring format at lower-tier tournaments. In this system, matches are still best-of-three games, but each game is played to 15 points instead of 21, with a two-point winning margin required.
The change has sparked debate. Some fear it could drastically alter training systems that have relied on the 21-point format for nearly two decades. Others believe the shorter format makes matches more exciting and less physically demanding.
According to the BWF, three potential benefits of the new system are more intense rallies, quicker turning points in matches, and reduced physical strain on players.
“Our goal is to modernize the sport while protecting athlete wellbeing,” Khunying said. “We’re collecting feedback from players, coaches, and organizers. The BWF Council will carefully review the results before any formal decision is made.”
Khunying emphasized that the BWF remains committed to maintaining the integrity of the sport and focusing on athlete-centered policies.
“My mission is to make badminton a truly global sport that unites people through opportunity and shared success,” she concluded. “With China as a strong partner, we are confident about the future of badminton worldwide.”
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