Sudirman Cup 2025: Teams React and Marin Emerges as the "Warrior" of World Badminton
Ashley
Sun Mar 30 2025
The 19th edition of the Sudirman Cup Finals, a prestigious mixed team badminton championship, is set to take place in Haikou from April 27 to May 4, 2025. With the World Badminton Federation confirming the list of 16 national teams for the group stage draw on March 13, 2025, excitement is building in the badminton community.
In the Asian region, powerhouses like Indonesia, China, Thailand, and Japan secured berths in the Sudirman Cup Finals after making it to the semi-finals of the Asia Mixed Team Championships held in Hainan. The host nation China, being the defending champion, also received additional qualification spots, with South Korea and India stepping in. Teams from Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, and Hong Kong China completed the Asian contingent based on team rankings.
Meanwhile, teams like Algeria from Africa, Australia from Oceania, and Canada from Pan Am got through the qualifiers as champions of their respective continental team championships. In Europe, initially, Denmark, France, England, and Germany advanced to the semi-finals of the 2025 European Mixed Team Championship in Baku. However, only Denmark, France, and England proceeded to compete in Haikou.
Despite qualifying for the European Mixed Team Championship semi-finals, Germany surprisingly declined the invitation to Sudirman Cup 2025. Subsequent invitations to higher-ranked European teams like Spain and the Netherlands were also rejected. The Czech Republic eventually accepted the invitation, filling the vacant spot based on rankings.
The decisions of teams like Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands have raised concerns about the credibility of the Sudirman Cup and shocked the host city of Haikou. Withdrawals from this prestigious event have been rare since the COVID-19 pandemic, except for the small Kenyan team, making this year's situation unprecedented.
The refusals from Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands have not only disappointed badminton fans eagerly anticipating the 7th Sudirman Cup Finals in China but also cast a shadow on the event's prestige. Haikou, known for its beautiful beaches, lush gardens, and tropical climate, was looking forward to hosting this major sports event for the first time. The local community's passion for badminton adds to the city's sports culture and makes it a fitting venue for the Sudirman Cup.