Hyderabad: Former world champion PV Sindhu has assumed charge as a Badminton World Federation (BWF) council member after being elected as chair of the BWF Athletes’ Commission in Dec 2025. It is rare for an active and top-ranked player to get a key position in the sport’s governing body. Sindhu replaced Greysia Polii of Indonesia and will hold the position till April 2029. Polii had taken over the reins of the commission in 2022 after she had stopped participating in international events.Before Sindhu, Assam chief minister and president of Badminton Association of India (BAI) Himanta Biswa Sarma had served as a member of the BWF council between 2021 and 2025. The council plays a crucial role in governance of badminton worldwide. As a voting member of the council, she will participate in discussions and decisions that shape the future of the sport. The council is the highest decision-making body of BWF, which will decide on the strategic direction of the sport. It approves budgets, business plans and monitors long-term objectives for the growth of badminton.The 31-year-old made her first appearance at the annual general body (AGM) meeting in Horsens, Denmark on Saturday, when the new 3×15 scoring format was approved.“It is an honour to take on this responsibility within the BWF and to represent the voices of athletes from around the world,” Sindhu said in a statement on Monday. “Badminton has given me so much, and I feel deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the sport in this capacity.” Sources added that her experience of serving on the BWF Commission (2017) and as a BWF integrity ambassador (2020) should help her fit into the bigger role.Sindhu’s inclusion along with deputy chair Debora Jille marks a shift towards giving more preference to players in the governance of the sport. Sindhu will be supported by other player representatives — An Se Young (Korea), Doha Hany (Egypt) and Jia Yi Fan (China).Welcoming Sindhu to the council, BWF president Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul said, “Over many years, PV Sindhu has demonstrated exceptional skill, grace and spirit on the court, and it is wonderful to now have such an outstanding role model representing the voice of our athletes. Through the BWF Athletes’ Commission, our global badminton community continues to be shaped by those who live and breathe the game.”From the players’ perspective, Sindhu can push for prize money at the World championships and reduce the load of mandatory tournaments.
