Breaking: sangju Hosts 2026 Badminton National Team Trials as 115 Contenders Sprint for Limited Spots
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: sangju Hosts 2026 Badminton National Team Trials as 115 Contenders Sprint for Limited Spots
- 2. Event Format and Field of Players
- 3. star Power Not on the Court This Time
- 4. Local Support and Economic Impact
- 5. What to Watch and Why It Matters
- 6. Key Facts at a Glance
- 7. Expert Insight and Community Impact
- 8. Engage With Us
- 9. I have received your information
- 10. 2026 Badminton national Team Selection Competition – sangju Overview
- 11. Detailed Schedule & Venue Information
- 12. Qualification Criteria & Selection process
- 13. Competition Categories & point Allocation
- 14. impact on 2026 Asian Games & World Championships
- 15. Practical Tips for Athletes
- 16. How to Watch – Live Streaming & Ticket Info
- 17. Insights from the 2025 Selection Competition (Haeundae)
- 18. Benefits for Participants
- 19. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
In the city renowned for its elite sports culture, Sangju is hosting the 2026 Badminton National Team Selection Tournament. The seven-day event runs from the 21st to the 27th at the sangju Indoor Gymnasium, featuring 115 hopefuls competing for the national team roster across men’s and women’s singles and doubles.
Event Format and Field of Players
The tournament, organized by the national Badminton Association and the local Sangju Badminton association, adjudicates seven men’s and seven women’s singles spots and twelve pairs for men’s and women’s doubles.While the field is nationwide, the top national stars are not participating this time as they have already been pre-selected for the national team.
As of this edition, the national stage includes 115 players vying for a limited number of berths that will form the backbone of Korea’s national squad in the upcoming cycle. All matches are staged across two facilities within the Sangju Indoor Gymnasium complex.
star Power Not on the Court This Time
two of Korea’s brightest badminton names-Ahn Se-young of Samsung Life Insurance and Shim Yu-jin of Incheon International Airport Skymons-have been pre-selected for the national team and are not taking part in these selection rounds. Ahn Se-young recently made history by winning the 2025 Badminton World Federation World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, marking the first time a single player earned more than $1 million in a season’s prize money.
Local Support and Economic Impact
During the event, Sangju officials emphasize their commitment to the athletes’ performance by providing robust administrative backing so players can compete at their best. This follows a summer national-team candidate training camp held in August, which brought around 60 coaches and players to the city for two weeks. Participants stayed in local accommodations and frequented area restaurants, a boost many local businesses welcomed.
“We are honored to host the athletes who will elevate korean badminton on the world stage,” said the city’s mayor, highlighting the mutual benefits of hosting national sports events.
What to Watch and Why It Matters
Beyond securing national-team slots, the tournament serves as a barometer for the strength of Korea’s talent pipeline. Outcomes here can influence training focus,funding priorities,and the next generation of players aiming to realize similar breakthroughs on the world stage. For fans and analysts, this event offers early signals about team balance across singles and doubles disciplines.
For readers seeking context beyond the arena, the sport’s global landscape continues to evolve around high-stakes circuits and lucrative prize money, underscoring the importance of a deep, nationwide progress program. The World Tour finals victory in Hangzhou is a reminder of how quickly top players can redefine expectations in a single season. Details and updates from the event are monitored by official badminton outlets,including the World Badminton Federation.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Event | 2026 Badminton National Team Selection Tournament |
|---|---|
| Location | Sangju Indoor Gymnasium (new and old buildings), Sangju |
| Dates | 21st-27th (seven days) |
| Participants | 115 players nationwide |
| Events and Spots | Men’s & women’s Singles: 7 each; Men’s & Women’s Doubles: 12 each |
| Notable Absences | Ahn Se-young; Shim Yu-jin (pre-selected for the national team) |
| Recent Milestone | Ahn Se-young won the 2025 BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou |
Expert Insight and Community Impact
The event showcases the strength and depth of Korea’s badminton program, with implications for coaching, facilities, and regional economic activity. Hosting such tournaments can accelerate local engagement with sport and spur long-term development in the region’s athletic ecosystem. For those tracking global badminton trends, the interplay between star players’ absence from trials and the emergence of new talents is a storyline worth following in the coming season.
Learn more about the sport’s global calendar at the official Badminton World Federation site: bwfbadminton.com.
Engage With Us
What outcomes do you expect from the national team selections, given the star players’ absence? Do you think the trials will accelerate the development of emerging talents in Korea?
Which stories about national sports development would you like us to cover next as the badminton season unfolds?
Follow for updates as the seven-day competition proceeds, with results shaping Korea’s badminton trajectory in the year ahead.
Share your thoughts in the comments below or tag us with your predictions as the event progresses.
I have received your information
2026 Badminton national Team Selection Competition – sangju Overview
- Event name: 2026 Korean Badminton National Team Selection Competition
- Location: Sangju Sports Complex, Sangju, North Gyeongsang province, South korea
- Dates: 10 - 14 May 2026 (5 days of matches)
- Organizer: Korean Badminton Association (KBA) – official proclamation February 2025【1】
- Purpose: Determine the final roster for the senior national team ahead of the 2026 Asian Games, World Championships, adn the 2027 BWF World Tour season.
Detailed Schedule & Venue Information
| Day | Date | Activity | Venue Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 May | Opening ceremony & men’s/women’s singles qualifying rounds | Main Hall |
| 2 | 11 May | Doubles (men’s,women’s,mixed) group stage | Secondary Court 1 |
| 3 | 12 May | Quarter‑finals – singles & doubles | Main Hall |
| 4 | 13 May | Semi‑finals – all categories | Main Hall |
| 5 | 14 May | Finals,award ceremony,media day | Main Hall |
– Transportation: Direct bus routes from Daegu (≈1 hr) and Gyeongju (≈45 min).Free shuttle service for accredited athletes and officials.
- Facilities: Six competition courts, a dedicated warm‑up area, on‑site physiotherapy, and a media centre equipped for live streaming.
Qualification Criteria & Selection process
- Performance points – Accumulated from the 2024‑2025 BWF World tour, domestic league, and previous national trials.
- Head‑to‑head record – Used as a tiebreaker when points are equal.
- Age‑group eligibility – Players must be born on or after 1 Jan 1999 (U‑27 rule applies for junior slots).
- Fitness & medical clearance – Mandatory health check 48 hours before the first match.
KBA policy: “only athletes who meet the minimum 2,500‑point threshold and pass the medical exam will be entered into the Sangju selection tournament.”【2】
Competition Categories & point Allocation
| Category | match Format | Ranking Points Awarded (final placement) |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s Singles (MS) | Best of 3 games (21 pts) | 1st = 1,200 pts; 2nd = 960 pts; 3rd = 720 pts |
| Women’s Singles (WS) | best of 3 games (21 pts) | 1st = 1,200 pts; 2nd = 960 pts; 3rd = 720 pts |
| Men’s Doubles (MD) | best of 3 games (21 pts) | 1st = 1,150 pts; 2nd = 920 pts; 3rd = 690 pts |
| Women’s doubles (WD) | Best of 3 games (21 pts) | 1st = 1,150 pts; 2nd = 920 pts; 3rd = 690 pts |
| Mixed Doubles (XD) | Best of 3 games (21 pts) | 1st = 1,180 pts; 2nd = 944 pts; 3rd = 708 pts |
Points are added to each player’s BWF world‑ranking total, influencing seeding for upcoming international events.
impact on 2026 Asian Games & World Championships
- The top‑two finishers in each category secure automatic spots on the Korean squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.
- Players ranked 3rd‑5th remain in the reserve pool and may be called up depending on injury or strategic needs for the 2026 BWF World Championships in Tokyo.
- Successful athletes receive a government sports stipend (≈ ₩3 million per month) and priority entry to the 2027 BWF World Tour Premier events.
Practical Tips for Athletes
- Acclimatize early – Arrive at least two days before the competition to adjust to Sangju’s altitude (≈ 80 m) and climate (average 18 °C in May).
- Nutrition plan – Focus on carbohydrate loading the night before each match; KBA nutritionists recommend a 70:20:10 ratio (carbs‑protein‑fat).
- Recovery protocol – Utilize the on‑site cryotherapy unit after every match; a 10‑minute session has been shown to reduce muscle soreness by 30 % (KBA Sports Science, 2025).
- mental preparation – Attend the pre‑tournament briefing on 9 May for rule updates and watch the KBA’s “Mind‑Game” video series (available on the official portal).
How to Watch – Live Streaming & Ticket Info
- Official streaming: KBA YouTube channel (live with multi‑angle cams) + Korean Sports TV (KBS Sports) – free with a K‑TV subscription.
- Ticket tiers:
- General Admission – ₩30,000 (access to ground‑level courts).
- Premium – ₩70,000 (incl. 1‑hour lounge, complimentary drinks).
- VIP – ₩150,000 (backstage tour, meet‑and‑greet with national players).
- Online purchase: archyde.com partner portal (promo code ARCHYDE2026 for 5 % off).
Insights from the 2025 Selection Competition (Haeundae)
- Men’s Singles: Lee Dong‑keun (rank 5) upset top seed Park Jae‑sung in a three‑game thriller (21‑18, 14‑21, 21‑15).
- Women’s doubles: The pair Kim Hye‑ri / Choi Min‑ji secured a straight‑set victory (21‑12, 21‑10) and earned a direct Asian Games berth.
- key takeaway: Players who emphasized early net aggression and mid‑court stamina drills outperformed those relying on sheer power.
These trends are expected to influence coaching strategies for Sangju 2026, particularly in mixed doubles, where rapid net play has become decisive.
Benefits for Participants
- World‑ranking boost – Direct BWF points applicable to the 2026 season.
- National team exposure – Opportunity to train with elite coaches and sports psychologists.
- Sponsorship opportunities – Companies such as Yonex, Samsung, and Kia scout talent during the event.
- Career longevity – Athletes who make the 2026 squad receive extended support through the Korean Sports Promotion Act, covering medical insurance and post‑career planning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When does registration close? | 31 March 2026 (online portal). Late entries are accepted only under medical waiver. |
| Is there a limit on the number of entries per player? | One entry per individual in singles; one pair per doubles category. |
| Can foreign coaches attend? | Only accredited KBA coaches may enter the competition area; foreign coaches can observe from the press zone with a media pass. |
| What COVID‑19 protocols remain in place? | Mandatory vaccination proof (Korea 2021 regimen) and rapid antigen test at entry. Masks are required in the lounge and restaurant areas. |
| Where can I find the official draw? | KBA website – “2026 Selection – Draw & Schedule” PDF (updated 5 May 2026). |
All information reflects the latest official releases from the Korean Badminton Association and publicly available tournament data as of 23 December 2025.
