The India Open 2026 is under increased scrutiny as Singapore's Loh Kean Yew adds his voice to concerns surrounding the tournament conditions, following reports of a monkey sighting and disruptive bird droppings during matches. These incidents compound existing worries about air quality, hygiene, and overall player safety at the event.

Loh Kean Yew's match against India's H.S. Prannoy was notably interrupted twice due to bird droppings landing on the court. These disruptions occurred during crucial moments of the match, first when Prannoy was leading 16-14 in the opening game, and again at the start of the deciding game. Tournament officials had to step in to clean the playing surface, causing delays and raising questions about the venue's hygiene. Prannoy confirmed after the match that the stoppages were due to "bird shit".

Loh Kean Yew also addressed the issue of pollution in Delhi, stating that it affected his stamina and overall health. He mentioned taking precautions such as wearing a mask and staying indoors as much as possible to mitigate the effects of the poor air quality.

The incidents involving bird droppings and the monkey sighting have sparked widespread concern regarding the organizational preparedness and safety measures at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the venue for the India Open. These issues arose shortly after Badminton Association of India (BAI) General Secretary Sanjay Mishra claimed the venue was pigeon-free.

Prior to these incidents, Danish shuttlers Mia Blichfeldt and Anders Antonsen had already voiced strong concerns about the tournament conditions. Blichfeldt described the conditions as "dirty and unhealthy," citing dirt on the floors and bird droppings in the warm-up areas. Antonsen withdrew from the tournament for the third consecutive year, citing "extreme pollution" in Delhi as the reason. He also revealed that the Badminton World Federation (BWF) fined him $5000 for withdrawing.

The BWF has acknowledged the challenges and stated that improvements have been made to address the concerns raised. The federation said that it is actively engaging with players and teams to review the conditions at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex. While admitting that managing seasonal conditions like haze and cold weather has been challenging, the BWF maintains that the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex is a significant upgrade from the previous venue, KD Jadhav Stadium. The BWF has also promised further upgrades before the BWF World Championships in August, which will also be held in New Delhi.