India Open: BWF breaks silence after bird dropping chaos, rock tournament pollution fears | Badminton News – The Times of India

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 capable of hosting major global events.In an official statement issued after interacting with players and teams during the tournament, the BWF said the feedback received, both positive and critical, was invaluable in improving conditions at the event and future championships. The world body admitted that dealing with seasonal challenges such as haze, cold weather and indoor air quality had caused problems during the week, but stressed that assessments confirmed the venue offered better infrastructure than the previous KD Jadhav Stadium.

The statement came against the backdrop of a series of unusual and embarrassing incidents during the tournament. On Thursday, the men’s singles second round match between HS Prannoy and Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew was stopped twice after bird droppings fell on Court 1, forcing officials to briefly suspend play and clear the surface. Prannoy later confirmed the reason for the stoppages in the mixed zone, while Loh spoke more broadly about the pollution affecting players’ stamina and health.Earlier this week, complaints had surfaced about extreme cold in the arena, poor air quality and general hygiene, with Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt publicly criticizing the conditions. Former world champion Anders Antonsen withdrew from the tournament for the third year in a row due to extreme pollution. The organizers were also left red-faced after a monkey was spotted in the stands during the game.The BWF acknowledged that areas such as cleanliness, hygiene and animal control needed attention, but said the Badminton Association of India had acted quickly to address these issues. It also noted that players had appreciated improvements to the playing surface, floor, gymnasium and medical facilities.With the venue set to host the BWF World Championships later this year, the federation said this week’s insights 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.