Thailand’s Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul has been confirmed as the new President of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) during the 86th BWF Annual General Meeting held in Xiamen, China, on Saturday, April 26, 2025. She won the position unopposed, becoming the second woman to lead the federation.
In her inaugural address, Khunying Patama expressed her vision for the sport: “For me, badminton has always been more than a sport, and tonight marks a deeply meaningful milestone. While badminton is in a strong position today, we must continue to work towards making it a truly global sport. The next Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles are just three years away, and LA28 presents a powerful opportunity to elevate our sport on the world stage. We must be ready to grab this moment.”
She succeeds Denmark’s Poul-Erik Høyer, whose 12-year tenure as BWF President concluded at the meeting. Høyer was honored with the title of Honorary Life Vice President by the BWF membership. Reflecting on his legacy, Khunying Patama said, “Badminton has come a long way over the past decade, and I am truly grateful for the strong foundations laid by my good friend Poul-Erik Høyer. Thank you for everything you have done for badminton—as a champion on court, a visionary administrator, and, above all, a wonderful person. It is both a privilege and a great responsibility to accept the baton of leadership from you.”
Høyer, in turn, praised his successor: “It’s a great honor to pass on the baton to my dear friend and colleague Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul. I am sure badminton and the BWF will continue to grow under your leadership. Continuity, innovation, and capacity building are core elements I hope the Federation will champion over the next four years, heading into Los Angeles 2028 and beyond.”
New Leadership Team
Long-serving BWF Council member and Paris 2024 CEO Etienne Thobois of France was confirmed as Deputy President, running unopposed. Thobois shared his enthusiasm for the future: “I’m very excited to work with Khunying Patama and the team to further the sport’s global footprint. We have a great challenge ahead to keep badminton relevant and exciting for the masses. The good news is that we are already in a strong position, with a solid strategic blueprint to narrow the gap between badminton and other leading global sports.”
He also paid tribute to Høyer, calling him “a true hero” and “a living testimony of resilience.”
In other elections, France’s Richard Perot was elected as BWF Vice President for Para Badminton, defeating incumbent Paul Kurzo. Perot outlined his vision: “My goal is to create a more globally balanced sport where all countries have the resources to push their boundaries. A sport that breaks barriers and gives every child, disabled or not, regardless of social origin, skin color, gender, or religion, a chance to play for life and achieve their dream of becoming a champion.”
The meeting also saw the election of 20 new BWF Council members, adhering to continental and gender quotas as per the BWF Constitution.
With a new leadership team in place, the BWF looks forward to a future of growth and innovation, aiming to solidify badminton’s place as a premier global sport.