Concerns Raised Over India Open 2026 Amid Poor Conditions

The ongoing India Open 2026 in New Delhi has come under fire from politicians and players alike due to poor conditions at the venue. Reports of bird droppings interrupting matches and monkey sightings in the stands have raised serious concerns about the infrastructure. Danish players have also withdrawn, citing severe air pollution. As India aspires to host the Olympics, calls for world-class governance in sports have intensified. The Badminton World Federation is reviewing the situation and acknowledges the need for improvements. Read on to discover more about the challenges faced at this prestigious tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 16, 2026, 12:04 IST

Criticism of the India Open 2026

In New Delhi, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Singhvi and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi have expressed their concerns regarding the ongoing India Open 2026 tournament. Chaturvedi emphasized that "world-class sport requires world-class governance," highlighting the need for better management.

These remarks come in light of reports detailing subpar facilities at the tournament, which is taking place at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Recently, matches were interrupted due to bird droppings on the court, and there were also sightings of monkeys in the stands. This follows complaints from Danish player Mia Blichfeldt about the venue's conditions, alongside Anders Antonsen's withdrawal from the event, citing severe air pollution in the capital.

Chaturvedi took to X to criticize the infrastructure issues at the BWF tournament, especially as India aims to host the Olympics. She stated, "Bird droppings halting international badminton matches. Monkeys sighted in the stands. International players withdrawing from the tournament in Delhi due to air pollution while some players speaking about lack of proper infrastructure. It is all happening at the India Open Super 750 in Delhi."

Abhishek Singhvi also voiced his discontent regarding the conditions at the India Open, asserting that hosting international events necessitates top-tier governance rather than temporary fixes. He remarked, "Bird droppings halting international matches. Monkeys in the stands. Players choking on pollution. This is not satire, this is the India Open Super 750 in the national capital. If we want to host the world, we must stop embarrassing ourselves before it. World-class sport needs world-class governance, not jugaad."

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) acknowledged the concerns raised and stated that they are in discussions with players and teams to assess the conditions at the India Open 2026. They recognized both positive and constructive feedback, noting that while there are challenges due to seasonal factors like haze and cold weather, the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex represents a significant improvement over the previous venue, meeting field-of-play standards and providing better infrastructure.

Furthermore, the BWF mentioned that issues related to cleanliness and animal control have been promptly addressed by the Badminton Association of India (BAI), and they plan to utilize feedback from this tournament to enhance future events.