Monkeys in the stands and Pigeons on the court: India Open 2026 draws attention for unusual problems

The 2026 India Open badminton tournament began on January 13 at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, but it grabbed attention for unexpected reasons. Matches were interrupted several times as players and fans dealt with monkeys in the stands and pigeons on the court.

The tournament, which was previously hosted at the KD Jadhav Stadium, has been moved to Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium has brought its own set of issues. On the first day, Danish player Mia Blichfeldt described the venue as “unhealthy and dirty,” while world number 2 Anders Antonsen chose to skip the tournament for the third year in a row, citing Delhi’s high pollution levels.

ALSO READ: Netizens brutally mock Babar Azam after Pakistan star's English slip video goes viral

Players Speak Out

Singapore’s former world champion Loh Kean Yew shared his struggles with the conditions:

“I’m breathing less. I wear a mask whenever I can. I try to stay indoors as much as possible, but the pollution is very high and needs to be fixed immediately.”

ALSO READ: Harleen Doel breaks silence on being retired out after guiding UP Warriorz to a dominating win vs Mumbai Indians

BWF Responds

The unusual problems at the India Open highlighted gaps in India’s preparations, especially with the World Championships scheduled at the same venue in August. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) responded to concerns, saying:

“We have spoken to players and teams about the conditions at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex. Most issues were due to seasonal factors like fog and cold, which affected air quality and temperature inside the venue. Overall, the feedback was positive and constructive.”

The BWF added that the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium offers much better infrastructure than the KD Jadhav Stadium. They acknowledged that improvements in cleanliness, hygiene, and animal control were needed. The BWF confirmed that all requirements for hosting the World Championships will be met, and the lessons learned from this week will help deliver a smooth, world-class event in August when seasonal problems are expected to be less severe.