The Badminton World Federation has directly responded to the multiple concerns raised by athletes during the recent India Open Super 750 tournament held in New Delhi. While firmly standing by the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex as a major venue improvement, the global governing body has admitted several significant issues need immediate attention.
Official Statement Addresses Player Feedback
In an official communication released after discussions with players and teams, the BWF stated that all feedback received during the event proved invaluable. This feedback included both positive comments and critical observations about the tournament conditions. The federation emphasized that this input would directly help improve future championships.
Seasonal Challenges and Venue Comparison
The world body openly acknowledged that managing seasonal difficulties presented real problems throughout the tournament week. Specific challenges mentioned included haze, cold weather conditions, and indoor air quality concerns. However, the BWF stressed that their assessments clearly showed the current venue offers substantially better infrastructure than the previous KD Jadhav Stadium used for such events.
Series of Unusual Incidents During Tournament
The federation's statement came against a backdrop of several unusual and embarrassing incidents that occurred during the competition. On Thursday, officials had to halt the men's singles match between India's H S Prannoy and Singapore's Loh Kean Yew not once, but twice. The reason? Bird droppings fell directly onto Court 1, forcing a temporary suspension of play for cleaning.
Prannoy later confirmed the exact reason for these stoppages when speaking to reporters. His opponent, Loh Kean Yew, spoke more broadly about how pollution levels were affecting players' stamina and overall health during matches.
Multiple Complaints from International Players
Earlier in the tournament week, numerous complaints surfaced from participants. Players reported issues with extreme cold inside the competition arena, poor air quality, and general hygiene concerns. Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt publicly criticized the playing conditions, adding her voice to the growing concerns.
In a significant development, former world champion Anders Antonsen withdrew from the tournament for the third consecutive year. He specifically cited extreme pollution as his reason for pulling out of the competition.
Organizers faced further embarrassment when spectators and players spotted a monkey in the stands during active play, raising obvious safety and control questions.
BWF Acknowledges Specific Problem Areas
The Badminton World Federation directly acknowledged that certain areas required urgent attention. These included cleanliness standards, hygiene protocols, and animal control measures around the venue. However, the BWF noted that the Badminton Association of India had responded promptly to address these specific issues as they arose during the tournament.
Recognized Improvements and Future Plans
The federation also highlighted that players had appreciated several venue upgrades implemented for this event. Positive feedback specifically mentioned improvements to the playing surface quality, flooring conditions, gymnasium facilities, and medical services available to athletes.
With the same venue scheduled to host the prestigious BWF World Championships later this year, the federation stated clearly that insights gained from this week's tournament would guide further upgrades. The BWF added that seasonal issues like extreme cold and haze are not expected to be as severe during the August timeframe of the World Championships.
The statement concluded by reaffirming the organization's commitment to ensuring a safe, high-quality environment for all participants in future events held at the venue.
