Srikanth Stands Firm on India Open Conditions
Former world number one Kidambi Srikanth has voiced strong support for the playing conditions at the ongoing India Open badminton tournament. Speaking from New Delhi, Srikanth made it clear he has not encountered any serious problems at the Indira Gandhi Stadium complex.
Responding to International Criticism
The Indian badminton star's comments come as a direct response to criticism from Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt. The Danish player had described the surroundings as unhealthy and called for Badminton World Federation intervention before this venue hosts the World Championships later this year.
Srikanth, who recently secured a tough second-round victory against compatriot Tharun Mannepalli, expressed confusion about the strong reaction. He emphasized that organizational issues can occur anywhere and are not unique to any single country.
Every Country Presents Unique Challenges
The 2021 world championships silver medallist explained his perspective with specific examples. "I don't know, see every country has its own conditions," Srikanth stated. "In Singapore, there is a lot of drift. In Malaysia, probably a little less. Earlier in Indonesia, it used to be very compact and fast before renovation. Every country has its own challenge."
When asked about Blichfeldt's specific complaints, Srikanth admitted he hadn't read her comments thoroughly. He based his assessment solely on personal experience, saying "I frankly haven't really read the note that she spoke. But I feel the conditions are fine. I didn't really see anything bad that was happening."
Sindhu Sees Value in Current Setup
Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu also shared her assessment of the facilities. "See this is the first time we're playing here, I mean, right now I just finished the match. I mean, it is fine," she commented after her game.
Sindhu highlighted the practical value of holding the India Open at this venue, noting "So, I think it's a good trial in a way" since the same complex will host the World Championships later this year.
Recalling Past International Incidents
Srikanth drew from his extensive international experience to provide context. He recalled a 2016 or 2017 incident in Denmark where he waited about an hour during a match because the lights failed. He also mentioned H S Prannoy's unusual situation where the Indian player completed one set on the first day and finished the second set the following day.
"So, these things do happen, just that nobody does it deliberately," Srikanth concluded, suggesting such problems are rare and unintentional occurrences in international badminton.
Mixed Reactions from International Players
Other competitors at the India Open expressed varying opinions about the conditions. France's Christo Popov emphasized the importance of player adjustment to different environments. World number two Kunlavut Vitidsarn from Thailand offered praise for the stadium facilities.
Badminton Association of India officials have acknowledged the event serves as a valuable learning opportunity ahead of the upcoming World Championships. They view the tournament as an important preparatory step for the major international competition scheduled for later this year.
