World Championships venue faces criticism over hygiene and cold weather.
Serious concerns regarding hygiene and infrastructure have surfaced at the ongoing India Open Super 750 tournament, casting a shadow over preparations for the upcoming BWF World Championships. Mia Blichfeldt, the world number 20 shuttler from Denmark, has openly criticized the conditions at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, labeling the venue as "dirty."
Hygiene and Infrastructure Woes
Although the venue was shifted from the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall to the larger Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium to prepare for the global event in August 2026, players are unimpressed. After her first-round victory, Blichfeldt highlighted that while the court conditions were acceptable, the general sanitation was poor. She pointed out that the floors were filthy and, shockingly, noted the presence of birds flying inside the enclosed arena, leaving bird droppings on the premises.
Health Precautions and Past Trauma
This marks the second consecutive year that Blichfeldt has raised issues regarding tournaments in New Delhi. During the previous edition, she fell ill due to the food provided. Taking no chances this time, the Danish star revealed she is strictly eating meals in her hotel room to avoid falling sick again, emphasizing that such conditions are unfair to professional athletes who risk missing subsequent tournaments due to preventable illnesses.
Battling the Cold
Sanitation is not the only challenge; the biting Delhi winter is also affecting performance. With temperatures dropping to around 13 degrees Celsius, the vast arena remains chilly, making it difficult for players to warm up effectively. Canadian shuttler Michelle Li echoed these sentiments, noting that the massive size of the new venue makes it harder to retain heat compared to the smaller setup used previously.
Official Response
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) views the India Open 750 as a "test run" for the marquee World Championships later this year. BAI Secretary Sanjay Mishra has assured that all issues identified this week will be rectified before the global event takes place in August.
