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Visiting badminton stars have slammed the unhealthy conditions at Indira Gandhi Stadium during India Open, citing cold courts and ‘shitting birds’, calling on the BWF to intervene.
Denmark badminton star Mia Blichfeldt.
(AFP Photo)
Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt on Tuesday slammed the ‘unhealthy’ and ‘not normal’ conditions at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi for the ongoing India Open. Blichfeldt complained that the courts were too cold for atheletes to function and that she had seen ‘birds flying around and shitting on the court’, calling on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to intervene and restore the ‘professionalism’.
Blichfeldt had also slammed the conditions for the 2025 India Open, hosted last January at the Jadhav Indoor Stadium.
“To be honest, no,” she said when asked if the conditions had improved, as quoted by PTI. “Yesterday, when I came to the warm-up courts, there were birds flying around and shitting on the court. That’s really unhealthy and not normal. I don’t think so many other athletes would play under these conditions. I hope everyone around the tournament, the association, and also BWF is going to look into this venue because it’s a professional sport,” she said.
“I actually hoped it was going to be better than the other hall,” Blichfeldt said. “I think it’s still very dirty and really unhealthy conditions for all the players. Everyone is warming up in two layers of pants and winter jackets and gloves and hats. It’s not good warm-up preparation for a player who has to go on court and move fast and go in splits. I know everyone is doing their best to make the conditions better for the players, but I think there is still a way to go… If players get sick or get injured because of these conditions, it’s unfair.”
Canada’s Michelle Li also said the new, larger venue feels noticeably colder and draftier, making it harder to warm up and adjust compared to the smaller, simpler arena, while former world champion Ratchanok Intanon echoed the concern, stressing that the cold conditions hinder match readiness and expressing hope for a warmer playing environment during the World Championships.
January 13, 2026, 17:29 IST
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