The Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Spanish Badminton Federation (FESBA) can confirm the BWF World Championships traditionally scheduled for August 2021 will now take place at the end of 2021 from Monday 29 November to Sunday 5 December.

The move will allow the BWF World Championships in Huelva, Spain to shine brightly in what will be a condensed sports calendar.

BWF and FESBA had already opened discussions with tournament hosts to stage the championships later in the year to ensure ultimate success of the event for players, their entourage and fans. 

The decision to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to 23 July to 8 August and 24 August until 5 September 2021 only confirmed this move.

The new schedule will allow players to have a clear focus for 2021 in which they will have dual objectives of both the Olympic Games and World Championships.

BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer said changing the BWF World Championships to late November was in the best interests of the sport.

“BWF and Spanish Badminton Federation are confident that the rescheduled championships will be a success. The move allows both the Olympic badminton competition and the World Championships to be conducted with equal fairness for everyone,” Høyer said.

FESBA President David Cabello added: ”We hope the World Championships in Huelva will be a special occasion for badminton in Spain and the world.

”We are satisfied that moving the championships to the end of the year will allow us to deliver the best tournament possible.”

The remainder of the 2021 BWF Tournament Calendar is yet to be finalised.

The World Championships will take place in the Carolina Marin Stadium, the arena named after the three-time world champion in her native city of Huelva.

A further announcement will be made on the qualifying process for next year’s Olympic Games, Paralympic Games and World Championships.