Monkey Spotted at India Open Badminton Tournament
New Delhi witnessed an unusual visitor at the prestigious India Open badminton tournament. A monkey made its way into the spectator stands at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex. This incident occurred just one day after players complained about bird droppings at the venue.
Uninvited Guest in the Gold Stand
Photographer Azlynna Dev captured the moment in three separate Instagram stories. The monkey sat comfortably in the gold stand area, not far from where world-class shuttlers competed. A security official confirmed the simian intrusion.
"Yes, a monkey entered the spectators' arena and sat in the gold stand," the official stated. "It remained there for about ten minutes. We received a complaint and removed it promptly. The monkey caused no harm to anyone."
The official explained that dim lighting made the animal difficult to spot initially. Once noticed, security personnel acted quickly to escort the unexpected guest away from the playing area.
Korean Player's Amusing Question
Korean men's doubles player Kang Min Hyuk added to the animal theme. He posted a video showing another monkey at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall. This venue served as the designated training facility for the tournament.
Kang's Instagram caption posed a humorous question: "Are animals (given) free admission?" His post highlighted the ongoing concerns about wildlife interference at the prestigious badminton event.
Previous Complaints About Venue Conditions
Danish shuttler Mia Blichfeldt had already voiced dissatisfaction with conditions. On the tournament's opening day, she criticized what she called unhealthy training arena conditions.
"I'm happy with the court conditions but not the health conditions," Blichfeldt told reporters after her first-round victory. "The floors appear dirty with considerable dust accumulation. Birds fly freely in the arena, leaving droppings everywhere."
This marked the second consecutive year Blichfeldt raised concerns about conditions during India's premier BWF event. The Badminton Association of India clarified that her complaints specifically addressed the KD Jadhav Stadium training venue, not the main competition arena.
World Federation Responds to Concerns
The Badminton World Federation acknowledged player concerns about venue conditions. They issued a statement addressing the situation at the YONEX-SUNRISE India Open 2026.
"We acknowledge concerns raised by several players and teams regarding venue conditions," the BWF stated. "The Indira Gandhi Sports Complex represents a significant upgrade from previous facilities. A comprehensive review of all tournament facilities and operational processes is currently underway."
The federation emphasized their commitment to improvements. They noted the same venue will host the BWF World Championships 2026 in August, making thorough assessments crucial.
Pollution Concerns Affect Player Participation
Beyond animal intrusions, air quality emerged as another concern. Danish men's singles World No.3 Anders Antonsen withdrew from the tournament for the third consecutive year. He cited Delhi's high Air Quality Index as his primary reason.
Antonsen explained his decision on Instagram: "Many are curious why I pulled out of the India Open again. Due to extreme pollution in Delhi currently, I don't believe it's an appropriate place to host a badminton tournament."
The Danish player had withdrawn on January 4, before even competing in the season-opening Malaysia Open. His absence highlighted broader environmental challenges facing international sporting events in the region.
The India Open continues at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex despite these unusual challenges. Tournament organizers and the BWF work to address concerns while maintaining world-class competition standards.
