Screenshot through video, HS Prannoy and Loh Kean Yew in motion in the course of the Indian Open at Courtroom 1 of the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, January 15, 2025. — X/@bwfmedia
Play on the India Open badminton match was halted twice on Thursday after fowl droppings had been noticed on Courtroom 1 throughout Indian HS Prannoy’s match in opposition to Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew, Indian media reported.
The incident stored the highlight on circumstances on the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium for a 3rd straight day and added to questions over the venue’s preparedness for the World Championships in August.
Play was first stopped within the opening sport when officers rushed in with tissues to wash the ground, and was halted once more within the third after recent droppings had been noticed.
“I think it was bird poop,” Prannoy stated after the match.
The disruption adopted different incidents reported on the venue in latest days, together with birds flying round on the apply courts and a monkey being seen within the stands.
Whereas the Badminton Affiliation of India (BAI) has defended the circumstances and preparations to date, Indian media stated Thursday’s episode provides to a rising record of embarrassments for organisers and factors of evaluation for the Badminton World Federation (BWF), which is monitoring the venue.
Gamers have additionally raised considerations over the town’s air pollution and climate circumstances, with Loh including to the problems flagged in the course of the match.
Earlier this week, Danish participant Blichfeldt raised considerations about what she described as “dirty and unhealthy” circumstances, calling on the BWF to intervene, a big allegation given the identical venue will host the World Championships scheduled to be held in August, with India set to host the worldwide showpiece for the primary time in 16 years.
Final 12 months’s India Open was held on the smaller KD Jadhav Enviornment earlier than being moved this season to the bigger Indira Gandhi Stadium, whereas coaching classes proceed to happen on the KD Jadhav Stadium positioned round 250-300 metres from the principle enviornment.
Blichfeldt had reiterated her considerations this week, particularly referring to the warm-up halls, saying gamers had been pressured to put on a number of layers resulting from chilly circumstances and describing the setting as unfit for elite preparation.
She additionally raised well being considerations after claiming to have seen birds contained in the warm-up space, together with situations of droppings on courtroom surfaces.
“That’s clearly unhealthy and not normal,” she stated, including that falling sick or getting injured resulting from such circumstances could be unfair to gamers.
Whereas acknowledging organisers’ efforts, she maintained enhancements had been nonetheless wanted and urged match authorities and the BWF to make sure skilled requirements are met.
