All posts tagged: India Open

IGI Stadium fully renovated for BWF World Championships: BAI secretary

IGI Stadium fully renovated for BWF World Championships: BAI secretary

Published by Webster

After drawing criticism over the state of facilities during the India Open earlier this year, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Thursday said the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium has undergone a complete renovation and is ready to host the “best-ever” edition of the BWF World Championships. The India Open came under scrutiny after players raised concerns over the condition of the venue, including its cleanliness, training facilities and air quality. The tournament also witnessed unusual disruptions, with matches briefly halted due to bird droppings and even a monkey entering the spectator stands. The controversy erupted after Danish shuttler Mia Blichfeldt criticised the condition of the warm-up and practice areas at the K.D. Jadhav Indoor Hall and the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium during the India Open, drawing attention to the poor state of the facilities. “We’ve worked on every issue that came up then, and I’m happy to say those problems have been resolved completely. I’m confident this will be one of the best World Championships ever,” BAI secretary general Sanjay Mishra told PTI on …

Major venue revamp for world badminton in Delhi

Major venue revamp for world badminton in Delhi

Published by Parlour News

New Delhi: Following severe criticism during the India Open in January, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) has given the assurance that the Indira Gandhi arena here has been renovated and ready to host the BWF World Championships in August. Workers clean the premises of the stadium during the fourth day of YONEX-SUNRISE India Open 2026 at Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, in New Delhi, India, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Hindustan Times) Working with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and sports ministry, BAI has addressed the infrastructure and hygiene issues that plagued the annual tournament. BAI secretary general Sanjay Mishra expressed confidence in the venue’s upgraded status, saying, “The issues that came up during the India Open have been rectified and I am confident this will be one of the best World Championships in every aspect, whether it is the infrastructure or the players’ experience.” The Super 750 event sparked international controversy when matches were repeatedly halted due to bird droppings on the courts besides monkeys being spotted in the stands. Though no dogs …

India Open Super 750: As no home player went beyond quarterfinals, performances on the court leave much to ponder | Badminton News

India Open Super 750: As no home player went beyond quarterfinals, performances on the court leave much to ponder | Badminton News

Published by Webster

Amid all the attention on organisational mishaps at the venue and poor air quality in the Capital, India Open 2026 witnessed the continuation of a recent trend: the lack of Indian involvement at the weekend. The tournament attained Super 750 status in 2023, the second rung on the BWF World Tour circuit. Since then, the Indian challenge at the business end has come only from Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (final in 2024, semifinal in 2025) and HS Prannoy (semifinal in 2024). This year, the farthest an Indian went was Lakshya Sen, who lost in the quarterfinals. With the tournament seen as a dress rehearsal for the World Championships in August, the federation has plenty of problems on its plate to organise it better, and results on the court haven’t exactly gone to plan either. Favourites stumped Two disciplines where India had the best chance of a final appearance, or even a title, were men’s singles and men’s doubles. Lakshya Sen showed glimpses of his best in the wins against Ayush Shetty and Kenta Nishimoto. …

Why does Delhi monopolise major sporting events even as pollution and player welfare are always genuine concerns? | Badminton News

Why does Delhi monopolise major sporting events even as pollution and player welfare are always genuine concerns? | Badminton News

Published by Webster

There were a bunch of conclusions to draw from the horror week at India Open badminton where Delhi’s hosting cred ended up shredded. Whether Delhi ought to host the World Championships in August and subsequent editions of the Super 750 event (it’s the second tier below the topmost Super 1000s) is one of the many intractable questions. India has delivered successful sporting events in the past, including the 2009 Badminton World Championships in Hyderabad and the Commonwealth Games in 2010, where the Siri Fort finale helped the Indian contingent leapfrog England to second place in the medal tally on the back of golds for Saina Nehwal and Jwala Gutta-Ashwini Ponappa, and cross the 100 mark. Even the 2009 Worlds went off smoothly after early jitters about a terror scare. The recent Junior Worlds in Guwahati faced a torrid first day when streaming lags gave the hosts a terrible first look. Bird droppings at the Syed Modi tournament in Lucknow two years back, and foreign players pointing out poor condition of tap water at hotels in …

India Open 2026: Materials from bird’s nest stop women’s doubles semi-final match | Badminton News

India Open 2026: Materials from bird’s nest stop women’s doubles semi-final match | Badminton News

Published by Webster

In continuation of the unusual things happening at the India Open Super 750 event, the things went from bad to worse as the the women’s doubles semifinal clash between the Chinese duo of Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning of China and the South Korean pairing of Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hi on Saturday. The first game of the match was halted as something fell from the top. The umpire called the sweepers to clean it and it looked like that it is bird poop again. However, upon confirming it with the officials, it turned out to be materials from a bird’s nest. The materials were picked up with tissue and dispose. This is not the first time that a game was halted due to bird-related issues. Earlier on Thursday, the pre-quarterfinal clash between HS Prannoy and Loh Kean Yew was disrupted twice after bird poop fell on the court sparking widespread criticism of the playing conditions at the event. Unhygienic and polluted At the start of the tournament, Danish shuttler Mia Blichfeldt had complained about …

Badminton World Federation acknowledges issues with ‘cleanliness, hygiene and animal control’

Badminton World Federation acknowledges issues with ‘cleanliness, hygiene and animal control’

Published by Webster

After incidents of bird droppings on the court, spotting of a monkey in the stands, and players complaining about poor air quality, hygiene at the stadium and cold conditions at the India Open, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) acknowledged issues regarding ‘general cleanliness, hygiene and animal control’. However, the BWF backed the IG Stadium as the venue to host the World Championships in August. The India Open witnessed a monkey sighting in the stands on Wednesday and play being halted twice during a match on Thursday because of bird droppings falling from above on the court. “The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has engaged with players and teams during India Open 2026 to review conditions at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi,” the governing body said in a statement. “The feedback received — both positive and constructive — is invaluable in shaping the best possible environment for this tournament and future championships. We also acknowledge the comments shared by players and the subsequent media coverage.” The BWF, however, added that the Indira Gandhi Indoor …

“I breathe less” – Former world champion Loh Kean Yew on tackling pollution at 2026 India Open

“I breathe less” – Former world champion Loh Kean Yew on tackling pollution at 2026 India Open

Published by Webster

Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2026 India Open following a come-from-behind 18-21, 21-19, 21-14 win over HS Prannoy in Delhi on Thursday. Speaking to the media after his third win in seven meetings against the Indian veteran, Loh opened up about battling the harsh conditions Delhi has to offer with severe cold and extremely poor air quality index. “I breathe less,” said Loh. “I just wear my mask when I can.” “Other than that, I try to stay indoor as much as possible, but that’s the only thing I can do,” he further reflected. Loh, the 2021 men’s singles world champion, further noted that all the players competing are struggling to maintain their stamina. “I mean, everyone’s stamina just dropped two levels,” he said. “My body was good in Malaysia [Malaysia Open Super 1000 last week] until I came here. The weather is not good. My health dropped quite a bit. “I’m surprised you guys [media persons] are okay,” he added with a chuckle. Loh’s statement comes just a day …

India Open 2026: Lakshya Sen left lone Indian standing in quarters

India Open 2026: Lakshya Sen left lone Indian standing in quarters

Published by Webster

India’s campaign at the 2026 India Open unraveled spectacularly at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Delhi as all apart from Lakshya Sen crashed out in the Round of 16 on Thursday. Up against Kenta Nishimoto for a spot in the quarter-finals, Sen registered a 21-19, 21-11 wins in straight games. The going was tough even for Sen in the initial stages of the first game against Nishimoto as the Indian was struggling to find his rhythm and length of his strokes. He trailed the Japanese shuttler 11-16 in the opening game and then 14-18 but kept on engaging his opponent in long rallies and came up with some brilliant defensive strokes to parry Nishimoto’s smashes to claw back. He won five straight points to take the lead and then wrapped up the opening game on the very first opportunity. Sen was much more clinical in the second game, varying his pace and going for the kill whenever he found an opportunity. As he grew in confidence, the 24-year-old mixed his half smashes with clever reserve …

Bird droppings falling on court halts match between HS Prannoy and Loh Kean Yew twice

Bird droppings falling on court halts match between HS Prannoy and Loh Kean Yew twice

Published by Webster

The match between HS Prannoy and Loh Kean Yew was paused twice, first towards the end of the opening game and then at the start of the third game, due to bird droppings falling from the top of the stadium ceiling. While it wasn’t clear during the match why the chair umpire had his arm up to call for the tournament referee and another official came on court to wipe, the Indian later said in the mixed zone, ‘it was bird shit that kind of halted the game.’ It happened on Court 1 at the venue, which is the main television court. The commentators weren’t sure on air either about what was causing the stoppages. In the first game, when Prannoy was leading 16-14, the game was halted as the umpire called the tournament official to remove something from the court. An official then cleaned the spot with tissues and wipes. The same incident happened in the third game when Prannoy was leading 1-0. In a close battle against the former world champion, Prannoy eventually …

India Open 2026: Lakshya Sen, Treesa-Gayatri reach second round

India Open 2026: Lakshya Sen, Treesa-Gayatri reach second round

Published by Webster

India’s Lakshya Sen and Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand advanced to the second round of the 2026 India Open Super 750 in Delhi on Tuesday. Up against fellow Indian Ayush Shetty in the men’s singles opening round, Sen registered a straight games 21-12, 21-15 victory in just 36 minutes. Sen started off strongly against the lower ranked Shetty, opening up a massive 17-6 lead in the first game before wrapping it up comfortably. “It’s very cold in Delhi, so its important to get the body warm,” joked Sen about his dominant start after his win. Shetty provided some resistance in the second game, even leading 11-10 at the mid-game interval. But Sen brought his experience to fore to record a straightforward win. “He’s a really good opponent. We’ve practiced together a lot of times. I had to come really prepared,” Sen said of his opponent. The 2022 India Open winner also termed the conditions at the Indira Gandhi Arena “tricky”. “We thought the shuttle might travel slower, since the arena is big. But it was quick and …