High-Performance

New Delhi, IND (August 16, 2026) – 14 athletes from across Canada have touched down and are ready to compete at the BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi, India. Running from August 17-23, Canada sends 2 pairs per event competing against the best players in the world at one of the most prestigous badminton tournaments of the year.

The BWF World Championships 2026 features 399 players from 56 countries around the world, and is hosted in India for the first time in 17 years.

The World Championships 2026 will also see Michelle Li in her 11th edition of the tournament. It will also feature rising star Victor Lai, who made history last year in Paris by being the first Canadian to capture a medal at a BWF World Championships. There are also several new faces in Canada's team, including Jackie Dent with partner Crystal Lai, Canada's number 1 women's doubles pair and world rank 38, and mixed doubles pair Timothy Lock and Chloe Hoang, who are fresh off their Asia tour and world rank 59.

Alongside Badminton Canada head coach Mike Butler, Canada also delegates 3 additional coaches;

Cathy Chau (ON), former Olympian and World Championships medalist;

Kevin Cao (ON), former World Junior medalist;

Adam Dong (ON), former Olympian and Pan Am Champion

 

Athletes from Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta will be representing the maple leaf throughout the tournament; players include:

Men's Singles	Victor Lai (ON)	Brian Yang (ON)
Women's Singles	Michelle Li (ON)	Wen Yu Zhang (BC)
Men's Doubles	Kevin Lee (AB) Ty Lindeman (AB)	Jonathan Lai (ON Nyl Yakura (ON)
Women's Doubles	Jackie Dent (ON) Crystal Lai (ON)	Eyota Kwan (AB) Johnna Rymes (AB)
Mixed Doubles	Jonathan Lai (ON) Crystal Lai (ON)	Timothy Lock (ON) Chloe Hoang (ON)

 

Best of luck to all our athletes, Canada will be cheering you on!

 

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For more information or media inquiries please contact:   

Badminton Canada   

Bryan R. Merrett   

bmerrett@badminton.ca   

Telephone: 613-518-1501, X 2083  

About Badminton Canada   

With shuttles reaching speeds as high as 493 kph, badminton attracts more than 220 million people worldwide to play the sport weekly, making badminton the second most participated-in sport in the world. Badminton Canada works to grow the game across the country through events, coaching and officials’ development, and developing programs such as Shuttletime. In Canada, over 2 million people picked up a badminton racquet and played our sport. Some play at the cottage, some in the backyard, at school, the local community centre or as part of an organized Badminton Canada competition. Badminton is easily accessible – for any Canadian – at any age – for life!