Markham to host 2018 World Junior Badminton Championships

The City of Markham is set to host the 2018 World Junior Badminton Championship from November 5 to 18, 2018 at the Markham Pan Am Centre in partnership with Badminton Canada and Badminton Ontario.
The Markham Pan Am Centre is recognized as a world class venue that hosted four sold out events during the 2015 Pan am & Parapan Am Games, including badminton.
Celebrating our Canadian identity through sport unites our community and makes the City an international sports destination. “Let’s cheer on Team Canada as we welcome the world to Markham,” said Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “Our state of the art facility, which was built with badminton in mind, is the perfect venue to watch the world’s best compete. Markham loves badminton, and this competition will not only create a strong sense of community, it will inspire young athletes to pursue excellence in sport,” Mayor Frank added. For the 600 athletes from over 55 countries, this is a rare opportunity to showcase their skills while competing on Canadian soil. This is only the third time in the history of the sport that Canada has hosted a World Badminton Championships.

“It is another opportunity to promote badminton in one of our developing confederations and I am sure Markham will be a great host,” said Poul-Erik Hoyer, President, Badminton World Federation (BWF).”It will be exciting to watch the young talents battling on court and I urge residents of Markham and the Greater Toronto Area to support this event.”
Badminton is the second most popular sport in the world, requiring skill, speed, agility and endurance. It is the #1 participatory sport in Markham schools, with a strong network of clubs and programming established within York Region for the sport.
Michelle Li is the reigning Commonwealth Games champion and has just returned home to Markham from competing at the DAIHATSU Indonesia Master 2018. “Living and training in Markham has been the best an athlete can ask for,” she says. “As I watch the younger players, I can see just how excited they are to compete in the World Junior Championships in Markham next November!”
“On behalf of Badminton Canada and all our players, athletes, coaches, and fans, I want to express our excitement at this tremendous opportunity to host the world during the 2018 World Junior Badminton Championships in Markham,” says Anil Kaul, President of Badminton Canada. “I also want to thank Badminton Ontario, the Organizing Committee, and all the volunteers and sponsors for their passionate work towards these Championships.”