Top badminton stars are decrying the conditions at the India Open Super 750 tournament, taking place at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
Danish player Mia Blichfeldt has been particularly vocal, describing the environment as "unhealthy and unacceptable". In an Instagram post, she lamented the presence of smog, dirt, and birds excrement on the courts, tagging the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in her complaint. Blichfeldt stated that it’s unfair to train and play in such conditions and that it has been happening for two years in a row. She also mentioned that these conditions have caused her to fall ill for two consecutive years.
Blichfeldt's criticism came after she suffered a stomach infection during the tournament. Despite feeling unwell, she pushed through her matches, even managing to win her first-round match against fellow Dane Julie Dawall Jokobsen. However, she ultimately lost in the second round to China's Wang Zhi Yi. After her first round Blichfeldt told BWF that she had been vomiting all night and felt physically drained. She expressed frustration that her hard work and preparation were wasted due to the subpar conditions.
Other players have echoed Blichfeldt's concerns. French shuttler Thom Gicquel also commented on the high pollution levels in Delhi, stating that they made it difficult to play. Gicquel's mixed doubles partner, Delphine Delrue, also reported unfavorable conditions.
The Badminton Association of India (BAI), the organizers of the India Open, acknowledged the logistical challenges they faced, stating that they only secured the venue four days before the event. The BAI is reportedly in discussions with the BWF to explore alternative venue options for future tournaments.
Social media reactions to Blichfeldt's complaints have been mixed. Some users agreed with her, while others accused her of making excuses. One user wrote, "Rightly said… The capital city New Delhi needs a huge change in environment as well as in cleanliness". Conversely, another user commented, "It's ironic how world's top ranked players have no problem playing and reaching semis and finals here in India but for some players the whole motive is to make problems up".
The India Open is a Super 750 tournament held at the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium, which is part of the IG Sports Complex. The complex also includes the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium and a velodrome. All three are properties of the Sports Authority of India (SAI). Previous tournaments in India have also faced complaints regarding bird droppings and poor hotel water quality, suggesting a recurring issue with facility standards.
