Human mimics will chase monkeys at Delhi badminton tournament

Organisers have found an unusual way to keep monkeys out of badminton matches in Delhi. Four trained men will mimic the sounds of langurs to scare away rhesus macaques during the upcoming BWF World Championships at IG Indoor Stadium. This creative solution comes after a monkey managed to sneak into the spectator stands earlier this year during the India Open. Real live langurs were historically used across India to scare away smaller macaques until wildlife protection laws strictly banned the practice.

Guarding Stadium Doors from Unwanted Guests

Officials are taking no chances with venue security this time around. Ambar Pratap Singh, regional executive director at the Sports Authority of India, noted that monkey entry became hard to stop whenever a single door was accidentally left open. To fix this, the venue will now use automatic double doors along with the human monkey chasers. Other animal control tactics include an American sound machine to repel birds and non-toxic slippery gel to deter pigeons.

Jabbar, a resident of Rohini, is one of the four mimicry artists hired for this unique task. He earns around Rs 25,000 every month for providing this service, often working through government tenders at North and South Block. He shared that this specific skill has run in his family for generations. He learned the loud, guttural techniques directly from his father, though he firmly stated he hopes his son chooses an entirely different career path.

Upgrading Venue Lights and Environment

Beyond dealing with monkeys and birds, event managers have fixed several other facility issues. Upgraded overhead lighting will now provide an illuminance figure between 2,200 and 2,400 lux. These lights are spread evenly to ensure shadows never interfere with the players on the court. Staff will also use special lighting combinations during presentations and ceremonies so players avoid any visual distraction before or after their matches.

Standard eco-friendly cold fire fireworks will safely mark the final day of the tournament on August 23, according to Sanjay Mishra, secretary of the Badminton Association of India. Workers have also fully repaired roof leaks just in time for heavy rains expected during the championships. This heavy rainfall should naturally help settle pollution levels, while officials promise high standards of cleanliness to reassure visiting international players. Mishra confirmed that the nearby stadium lake is currently being cleaned and beautified for the grand event.