India’s badminton organisers have mounted a strong defence of the Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2026, firmly rejecting claims by Danish players about poor conditions and hygiene, and insisting that international standards are being met at the New Delhi venue.
The pushback came after world No. 2 Anders Antonsen criticised the tournament, citing Delhi’s air pollution as the reason for withdrawing for a third consecutive year, reported India Today.
Antonsen revealed on social media that the Badminton World Federation (BWF) had fined him US$5,000 after rejecting his explanation for pulling out of the Super 750 event.
Responding sharply, Badminton Association of India (BAI) secretary general Sanjay Mishra dismissed the criticism, arguing that a player commenting from overseas could not fairly judge conditions on the ground.
“He can’t comment on the conditions here while sitting in Denmark,” Mishra told reporters. “His reason for withdrawal was not accepted by the BWF, and he was fined. There is no place for politics in this sport.”
The controversy deepened after Danish shuttler Mia Blichfeldt raised concerns about hygiene and cold conditions following her first-round match, reported NDTV.
She alleged unhygienic surroundings at training and warm-up venues, including dust and pigeon droppings, and urged the BWF to intervene – remarks that gained traction on social media.
BAI officials moved quickly to clarify the situation, stressing that Blichfeldt’s comments were being misconstrued. Mishra said her concerns related to the warm-up and training venue at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, not the main competition arena at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
“The playing arena has been kept clean, dirt-free and pigeon-free,” he said, adding that several players had expressed satisfaction with the match conditions.
According to the organisers, the KD Jadhav Hall – around 300 metres from the main stadium – is being used only for practice sessions this year, while the India Open itself has shifted to the larger Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
“She has some issues with dust and allergies; we can’t say anything about that,” Mishra noted, while adding that additional heaters had been installed to address complaints about cold conditions.
India’s double Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu offered a contrasting view, playing down the controversy and saying she had no complaints about the playing conditions at the main venue, reported India Today.
Sindhu said the courts and overall setup at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium were fine, underlining the organisers’ assertion that the competition arena meets international norms.
The timing of the criticism is sensitive, with the same venue set to host the BWF World Championships later this year — the first time India will stage the global event in 16 years.
Mishra said the India Open was being treated as a key preparatory tournament and that feedback would be shared with the BWF to ensure smooth organisation of the World Championships.
While acknowledging logistical challenges during Delhi’s winter, BAI officials maintained that sweeping claims about unhygienic conditions were inaccurate and unfair. “We are committed to world-class standards,” Mishra said. “Constructive feedback is welcome, but misrepresentation helps no one.”
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22 Oct 2025 17:56
