Challenges Faced by Yonex-Sunrise India Open Amid Player Complaints
Yonex-Sunrise India Open Faces Multiple Issues
The Yonex-Sunrise India Open, organized by the Badminton Association of India (BAI), has encountered a series of challenges. From complaints about the venue's cleanliness to higher-ranked players opting out due to Delhi's polluted air, the first few days of the tournament have been eventful. A monkey was even spotted wandering in the stands, adding to the chaos.
On Thursday, a crucial match featuring India's HS Prannoy against Singapore's Loh Kean Yew was disrupted twice due to pigeon droppings on the court. The venue, previously used for gymnastics during the 2010 Commonwealth Games, was selected by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) as a trial site for the upcoming World Championships.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) manages the stadium, and it is their duty to maintain cleanliness and upkeep, which has led both BAI and BWF to address the media regarding these issues.
The BWF acknowledged the concerns raised by players about air quality and cleanliness but maintained that the venue is still suitable for the World Championships. They stated, "Managing seasonal factors like haze and cold weather has been challenging, but our evaluations indicate that the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex is a significant improvement over KD Jadhav Stadium, providing better infrastructure."
They also noted that while cleanliness and animal control needed attention, BAI has acted swiftly to resolve these issues. Players have recognized improvements in the playing surface, gym facilities, and medical support.
Danish player Mia Blichfeldt, who criticized the air quality last year, expressed disappointment about the conditions this year as well. She remarked, "I hoped it would be better than the previous venue, but it remains dirty and unhealthy for players. Everyone is warming up in layers of clothing due to the cold."
World No. 3 Anders Antonsen announced his withdrawal from the tournament, citing the poor air quality. He shared on Instagram, "Many wonder why I have pulled out for the third consecutive year. The pollution in Delhi makes it unsuitable for a badminton tournament. I hope conditions improve by summer for the World Championships. Consequently, BWF has fined me $5,000."
Disappointing Day for Indian Players
The situation worsened for the hosts as, apart from Lakshya Sen, all Indian players, including the doubles team of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, faced defeats.
Lakshya advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Japan's Kenta Nishimoto with a score of 21-19, 21-11. Earlier, Srikanth lost to France's Christo Popov in a close match, and Prannoy was defeated by Loh Kean Yew, the eighth seed, with scores of 18-21, 21-19, 21-14.
In women's singles, Malvika Bansod was unable to overcome Chinese fifth seed Han Yue, losing 18-21, 15-21.
Sen had to fight hard in the first game against Nishimoto, trailing 11-16 before switching strategies to long rallies, which helped him recover. In the second game, he opted for quicker rallies to secure the match. "I struggled with my rhythm initially, but I adjusted my lifts and focused on defense, which turned the first game around," Lakshya explained.
The most disappointing outcome of the day was the loss of the doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who were defeated in a thrilling three-game match against the Japanese duo Hiroki Midorikawa and Kyohei Yamashita, with scores of 27-25, 21-23, 19-21.