What is the BWF?
The Badminton World Federation is the sport's world governing body — founded in 1934 as the International Badminton Federation, renamed in 2006, headquartered in Kuala Lumpur with nearly 200 member associations, and led since 2025 by Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul of Thailand, its first female president.[1] [2]
What does it govern?
The laws; the World Championships and junior worlds; the World Tour and its Finals; the Thomas, Uber and Sudirman Cups; para badminton; and the world rankings that run entry and Olympic qualification.[2] [3]
Why does it matter?
Every ranking point, sanctioned title and Olympic berth in badminton runs through the BWF — the official ladder of the world's fastest racquet sport.[2] [3]
References
- BWF — corporate site. Accessed August 2026.
- BWF — official site. Accessed August 2026.
- BWF — rankings. Accessed August 2026.