Bird Droppings Interrupt Prannoy's Match at India Open
The India Open badminton tournament faced another unusual disruption on Wednesday. The match between Indian star HS Prannoy and Singapore's former world champion Loh Kean Yew was halted twice because of bird droppings falling onto the playing surface.
This bizarre incident occurred on Court 1, which serves as the main television court at New Delhi's IG Indoor Stadium. It happened just one day after a monkey was spotted in the stands at the same venue.
Match Stoppages Confuse Players and Commentators
During the first game, with Prannoy leading 16-14, the chair umpire suddenly raised his arm to call for a tournament official. Viewers and commentators were initially puzzled about the reason for the stoppage. An official then came onto the court and cleaned a specific spot using tissues and wipes.
The same situation repeated at the start of the third game when Prannoy held a 1-0 advantage. Again, play was paused for cleaning.
After the match, Prannoy clarified the situation in the mixed zone. The Indian shuttler confirmed that bird droppings falling from the stadium ceiling had caused both interruptions.
Despite these unusual breaks, Prannoy eventually lost the closely contested match. The final score was 21-18, 19-21, 14-21 in favor of Loh Kean Yew.
Continuing Pattern of Problems at the Tournament
This incident adds to a growing list of concerns about conditions at this year's India Open. Earlier in the week, Danish player Mia Blichfeldt expressed dissatisfaction with what she called poor health conditions.
She specifically mentioned dirty floors and the presence of birds flying inside the arena. Blichfeldt noted that bird droppings were visible on the courts.
The Badminton Association of India responded to these complaints. BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra stated that Blichfeldt was referring to the training venue, not the main playing arena.
Mishra emphasized that the IG Indoor Stadium playing area remained clean and free from pigeons. He said several players had expressed satisfaction with the conditions.
Monkey Sighting and Pollution Concerns
On Wednesday, before the bird dropping incident, a monkey was seen sitting in the stands of the playing arena. Photographer Azlynna Dev captured the moment in Instagram stories.
Security officials confirmed the monkey's presence. They said it remained inside for about ten minutes before being removed promptly after receiving a complaint.
Korean player Kang Min Hyuk also posted a video showing a monkey at the KD Jadhav Indoor hall. This facility serves as the designated training venue within the same complex.
Another Danish player, Anders Antonsen, had previously criticized the tournament. He withdrew from the India Open, citing extreme pollution in Delhi during January as his reason.
Official Responses and Reviews
In response to the mounting criticism, the Badminton World Federation announced a comprehensive review. BWF stated that all tournament facilities and operational processes were currently under examination.
The Badminton Association of India addressed the monkey incident specifically. BAI noted that staff had been working continuously at the stadium for twenty days without previous such occurrences.
Their statement suggested a door might have been inadvertently left open, allowing the animal to enter. They described the incident as unfortunate.
These series of events have drawn significant attention to the operational aspects of the prestigious tournament. Players and officials continue to navigate both sporting challenges and unexpected environmental factors.
