Danish badminton player Mia Blichfeldt has once again questioned India’s preparedness to host the upcoming BWF World Championships, citing hygiene and infrastructure concerns at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex.
The criticism came a day after Blichfeldt’s Round of 16 exit at the BWF India Open, which is being staged as a test event ahead of the World Championships scheduled later this year at the same venue.
Taking to social media before leaving India on Friday, the Danish shuttler shared images showing bird droppings on a badminton court, describing the conditions as deeply disturbing and unprofessional.
“The past few days in India have been tougher than I expected. Even after mentally preparing myself, the conditions surrounding us are simply unacceptable and highly unprofessional,” Blichfeldt wrote.
She stressed that such circumstances make it extremely challenging for players to stay focused on performance and preparation.
“We are here to compete and to prepare professionally, both on and off the court. Unfortunately, under these conditions, it becomes very difficult to focus solely on delivering our best,” she added.
Blichfeldt also highlighted growing frustration among players participating in the Super 750 event, stating that stress levels at the venue were visibly high.
“At first, you try to laugh it off, but eventually it is neither funny nor fair to the players or anyone involved in this tournament,” her post read.
Concerns escalated earlier in the week when a match between HS Prannoy and Loh Kean Yew was interrupted twice after bird droppings fell onto the court. The incident followed reports of a monkey being spotted near the practice area, while stray dogs were also seen inside the complex on Friday.
In response to criticism, the Badminton World Federation acknowledged challenges related to seasonal conditions but defended the venue.
“Our assessments confirm that the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex represents a significant upgrade and meets BWF Field of Play requirements,” the federation stated.
Despite the assurance, Blichfeldt remained unconvinced, expressing serious doubts about hosting a global event at the venue under current circumstances.
“Sadly, I find it very difficult to see how a World Championship could be held here unless conditions improve significantly,” she wrote, while hoping for better protection and standards for players in the future.
