Kuala Lumpur: India on Friday won the bid to host the 2009 World Badminton Championship, after the the council of the game's governing body unanimously decided in New Delhi's favour.
Denmark and Macau, who were also keen to bid for the championship, withdrew their candidature in favour of India.
"It will be the first ever world championship (except cricket) given to India to host in all Olympic sports put together," said the elated President of the Badminton Association of India and Vice-President of the International Badminton Federation,V K Verma.
The IBF has 160 member countries.
Verma said the unanimous decision was taken by the IBF members after a presentation by India highlighting the country's tourist attractions, its economic strength, its population base for such events, the proven credibility of Indian establishment and the government's full support.
"After receiving the IBF council's unanimous support, I felt that this event will a great step forward for popularising the sport in India and we hope to produce an Olympic medallist in this field by 2012," Verma said after the IBF council's meeting.
The championship is held annually and the hosts are announced four years in advance.
More than 500 sportsmen from 50 countries will take part in the championship in New Delhi scheduled for September 2009, Verma said.
"The Indian Olympic Association has acknowledged this event as a curtain raiser for the 2010 Commonwealth Games," he said.
The indoor stadium being built for the Games and the new facilities would be used for the Badminton Championship.
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