India Open: BWF breaks silence after bird-dropping chaos, pollution fears rock tournament

The Badminton World Federation has acknowledged the concerns raised by players at the India Open Super 750 in New Delhi, while maintaining that the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex remains a significant upgrade as a venue and is capable of hosting major global events. In an official statement issued after engaging with players and teams during the tournament, the BWF said the feedback received, both positive and critical, was invaluable for improving conditions at the event and future championships. The world body admitted that managing seasonal challenges such as haze, cold weather and indoor air quality had posed difficulties during the week, but stressed that assessments confirmed the venue offered better infrastructure than the earlier KD Jadhav Stadium. The statement came in the backdrop of a series of unusual and embarrassing incidents at the tournament. On Thursday, men’s singles second-round match between H S Prannoy and Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew was halted twice after bird droppings fell on Court 1, forcing officials to briefly suspend play and clean the surface. Prannoy later confirmed the reason for the stoppages in the mixed zone, while Loh spoke more broadly about pollution affecting players’ stamina and health.

Earlier in the week, complaints had surfaced over extreme cold inside the arena, poor air quality and general hygiene, with Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt publicly criticising the conditions. Former world champion Anders Antonsen withdrew from the tournament for the third straight year, citing extreme pollution. Organisers were also left red-faced after a monkey was spotted in the stands during play. The BWF acknowledged that areas such as cleanliness, hygiene and animal control needed attention, but said the Badminton Association of India had acted promptly to address these issues.

It also noted that players had appreciated improvements to the playing surface, flooring, gymnasium and medical facilities. With the venue slated to host the BWF World Championships later this year, the federation said insights from this week would guide further upgrades. It added that seasonal issues were not expected to be as severe in August and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a safe, high-quality environment for all participants.