The Asian leg of the adjusted HSBC BWF World Tour 2020 will now take place in Bangkok, Thailand in January next year. It will feature two Super 1000 tournaments, culminating with the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals. The decision was announced at a BWF Council meeting on Thursday evening. This means the 2020 season will now finish in January 2021.

Badminton World Federation and Badminton Association of Thailand, in collaboration with the Government of Thailand, completed a feasibility study to ensure all parties can provide a safe COVID-19 framework to stage the three tournaments.

The study concluded Thailand to be the agreed host of the three-tournament Asian leg. BWF greatly appreciates the cooperation of the Badminton Association of Thailand and the support and contribution of the Government of Thailand in committing to this important step as part of the restart of international badminton tournaments.

Tournament Schedule

• Asia Open I (Super 1000) – 12-17 January 2021
• Asia Open II (Super 1000) – 19-24 January 2021
• HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2020 – 27-31 January 2021

It was agreed by the BWF Council that staging the Asian leg in November as originally planned was no longer a viable option in being able to guarantee the highest standard of tournament including securing all logistical arrangements for players and participants.

The January dates provide BWF with the best possible opportunity to resume and complete the HSBC BWF World Tour for 2020 as part of our return to international badminton.

The three Asian leg tournaments now sit alongside the DANISA Denmark Open 2020 (13-18 October) in forming the conclusion to the new-look HSBC World Tour 2020 calendar.

BWF will publish detailed tournament information such as safety protocols and operating procedures, plus impacts upon World Rankings and next season’s BWF Tournament Calendar at a later date.

Please see attached and linked here an Open Letter from BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer and Secretary General Thomas Lund

The BWF President, BWF Deputy President (and President of Badminton Association of Thailand) and BWF Secretary General will be available for media questions during a Virtual Press Conference via Blue Jeans next Tuesday 29 September at 6pm Kuala Lumpur time (CEST +6). Media are advised to register by emailing [email protected]. Individual links and logins will be provided. The press conference will be conducted in English.