The BWF India Open 2026 has been overshadowed by controversy as international players raised serious concerns about Delhi’s air pollution and venue hygiene, prompting sharp rebuttals from the Badminton Association of India and sparking a debate about the city’s suitability to host elite sporting events.
Here’s everything that has been said until now:
Antonsen’s Third Consecutive Withdrawal
World No. 2 Anders Antonsen became the focal point of the controversy when he withdrew from the tournament for the third consecutive year, citing “extreme pollution” in Delhi as his reason. The Danish star took to Instagram to explain his decision, sharing a screenshot showing Delhi’s Air Quality Index at 348, categorized as hazardous.
“Due to the extreme pollution in Delhi at the moment, I don’t think it’s a place to host a badminton tournament,” Antonsen wrote, adding that the BWF had fined him USD 5,000 for missing the mandatory Super 750 event. Under BWF regulations, top-ranked players must participate in Super 750 tournaments or face financial penalties unless granted medical exemptions.
Antonsen expressed hope that conditions would improve by August when Delhi hosts the BWF World Championships at the same venue, noting that summer typically sees better air quality than winter’s “smog season.”
Blichfeldt Criticizes Venue Hygiene
Danish player Mia Blichfeldt further fueled the controversy by describing training conditions at the venue as “dirty, unhealthy, and unprofessional.” She alleged that bird droppings were present on practice courts and criticized overall cleanliness standards at the facility.
“I had hoped it would be better than the other hall, but it is still very dirty, really unhealthy conditions for all players,” Blichfeldt told reporters after her first-round match. She specifically mentioned birds flying around creating messes and cold temperatures making warm-ups difficult.
Blichfeldt clarified that while the main competition court at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium was acceptable, her concerns focused on warm-up areas and training facilities, particularly at the older KD Jadhav Stadium located nearby.
Bird Droppings Halt Prannoy Match
Adding to the tournament’s woes, Indian player HS Prannoy’s Round of 32 match against Loh Kean Yew was interrupted twice when bird droppings landed on Court 1, requiring mid-match clean-ups. This embarrassing incident occurred at crucial moments, once with Prannoy leading 16-14 in the first game and again at the start of the third game.
Television cameras also captured a monkey in the stands of the indoor stadium, further highlighting organizational challenges and raising questions about venue maintenance standards.
BAI Defends Arrangements
The Badminton Association of India swiftly rejected the criticism, with General Secretary Sanjay Mishra defending the tournament arrangements. He emphasized that the India Open serves as a test event for the BWF World Championships scheduled for August at the same venue.
“Everyone has appreciated the wooden flooring and playing area here. There are no issues with accommodation or transport,” Mishra told media, adding that Blichfeldt’s concerns stemmed from personal sensitivities rather than organizational shortcomings.
Mishra questioned Antonsen’s credibility, noting the Danish player hadn’t been cleared by BWF to skip the tournament. “He can’t comment on the conditions here while sitting in Denmark. His reason for withdrawal was not accepted by BWF, and he was fined,” Mishra stated.
In a controversial statement, Mishra added, “There is no place for politics in this sport. It is wrong to support those who criticize our nation from abroad.”
Srikanth Offers Counter-Perspective
Former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth defended the tournament conditions, urging a balanced perspective. The Indian shuttler recalled facing power cuts during matches in Denmark that caused floodlight failures, suggesting operational challenges occur in various countries.
“From my own experience, back in 2016-17, I had to wait for an hour in between my match in Denmark because the light went out,” Srikanth said. “Every country wants to host properly. All these things happen very rarely. I don’t know why everyone is complaining.”
World Championships Concerns
The controversy arrives at a particularly sensitive time, as the tournament serves as preparation for the BWF World Championships returning to India after 16 years. While summer conditions typically offer better air quality than winter months, the criticism from elite athletes raises questions about Delhi’s readiness to host badminton’s premier event.
The India Open was moved from the smaller KD Jadhav Indoor Hall to the larger Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium specifically to test facilities ahead of the World Championships. However, the feedback from international players has cast doubt on organizational preparedness and venue suitability for top-tier events during winter months.
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