Kidambi Srikanth Stands Firm on India Open Playing Conditions
Indian badminton star Kidambi Srikanth has come forward to defend the playing conditions at the ongoing India Open tournament. His comments come in response to criticism from several foreign players who have raised concerns about the venue and environment.
"Every Country Has Its Own Conditions"
Srikanth expressed his confusion about the complaints surrounding the tournament. "I don't know why everyone's complaining about it," the Indian shuttler stated firmly. He emphasized that different countries present unique challenges for players.
"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," Srikanth explained, drawing from his extensive international experience. He believes every tournament location comes with its own set of conditions that players must adapt to.
Responding to Specific Criticisms
When asked about Danish player Mia Blichfeldt's comments describing the Indira Gandhi Stadium complex as "unhealthy," Srikanth admitted he hadn't read her remarks in detail. However, based on his personal experience at the venue, he found the conditions acceptable.
"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," Srikanth stated clearly.
Recalling Past Tournament Disruptions
The Indian player pointed out that disruptions occur in tournaments worldwide, not just in India. He shared specific examples from his career to illustrate this point.
- In 2016 or 2017, Srikanth had to wait for about an hour during a match in Denmark because the lights went out
- Fellow Indian player Prannoy once played one set on the first day and completed his match the following day
"These things do happen, just that nobody does it deliberately. Every country wants to do it really well," Srikanth noted, suggesting that occasional issues are part of international sports competitions.
Pollution Concerns and Player Withdrawals
The controversy around the India Open intensified when Denmark's Anders Antonsen, currently ranked world number three in men's singles, withdrew from the tournament. Antonsen cited Delhi's pollution levels as his reason for pulling out.
In an Instagram story, Antonsen wrote: "Due to the extreme pollution in Delhi at the moment I don't think it's a place to host a badminton tournament." This marked his third consecutive withdrawal from the India Open.
Despite these concerns from international players, Srikanth maintains his position that the conditions are manageable. He continues to compete in the tournament while other top players have chosen to withdraw.
The debate highlights the ongoing challenges of hosting international sporting events in different environmental conditions across the globe.
