‘Badminton capital of Canada’ to host Canada Open
The Yonex Canada Open 2025 brings world-level badminton to Markham this summer and will feature local athletes who competed at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics competing in front of their hometown crowd.
Michelle Li, a four-time Canada Open champion and four-time Olympian in Women’s Singles, Brian Yang, a two-time Olympian in Men’s Singles, and Nyl Yakura, a two-time Olympian in Men’s Doubles, are among those who will represent Canada at the event.
“This is a historic moment for the City of Markham as it marks the first time the Canada Open tournament will be held in Ontario,” says Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “The Markham Pan Am Centre has a strong partnership with Badminton Canada, hosting pre-Olympic training camps and the Yonex Challenge International Cup for the past three years. We’re looking forward to welcoming athletes, coaches and guests from across Canada and around the world to the badminton capital of Canada this July.”
After two successful years in Calgary, Alb., the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 300 event will be held in Markham from July 1 through 6. Top athletes from around the world will play at one of the highest levels of competition in the Pan Am region, with $240,000 USD in prize money on the line.
“With many of the top badminton players in the world competing, the event will offer an exciting brand of badminton to Canadian fans,” says Badminton Canada Executive Director Bryan Merrett. “Delivering a competition of this magnitude takes the contribution of many people in the community, and we are grateful for Markham’s hospitality and support. We look forward to watching Canadian players challenge the world and inspire us.”
“The 2025 Canada Open is a thrilling opportunity to welcome athletes, fans and officials to Markham,” says Destination Markham Executive Director Andrew Baldwin. “As Ontario’s first-ever host of this prestigious tournament, Markham continues to shine as a premier destination for world-class sporting events…We can’t wait to showcase the very best of Markham to guests from across Canada and around the globe.”
The HSBC BWF World Tour is a circuit of 31 tournaments attracting the top world-ranked players in singles (men’s and women’s) and doubles (men’s, women’s and mixed). The tournaments are divided into four levels: Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500 and Super 300. Each of those tournaments offers different ranking points and prize money. The highest points and prize pool are offered at the Super 1000 level. The HSBC BWF World Tour Finals, held in December, is the ultimate goal for players on the World Tour, with only the top eight players in each of the five disciplines qualifying to compete in the season finale.
For ticket information, visit yonexcanadaopen.ca
Photo: Michelle Li, four-time Canada Open champion, will be one of the elite athletes at this year’s Yonex Canada Open tournament. (Photo courtesy of Badminton Canada)