Organisational issues at theIndia Open 2026deepened on Thursday after men’s singles pre-quarter-final action betweenHS PrannoyandLoh Kean Yewwas interrupted twice due to bird droppings falling on the main court at theIndira Gandhi Indoor Stadiumin New Delhi.
The unusual stoppages occurred during a high-intensity second-round clash between the Indian shuttler and the former world champion from Singapore. Officials were forced to halt play to clean the court — a rare sight at aBWF Super 750event, especially at one of India’s premier indoor sporting venues.
The incident came just days afterBadminton Association of India (BAI)secretary generalSanjay Mishrahad assured that the venue was pigeon-free, responding to criticism from Danish shuttlerMia Blichfeldt, who had raised concerns about unhygienic conditions at the tournament’s training venue. Ironically, the bird-dropping interruption followed another embarrassing episode a day earlier, when a monkey was spotted inside the spectator gallery at the same stadium.
After losing a hard-fought three-game match, Prannoy acknowledged the disruption but chose not to blame the playing conditions. “I think it was bird shit which halted the game,” he said, adding that conditions were the same for all players and that cold weather and pollution were challenges competitors had to adapt to.
Concerns around Delhi’s environment have been a recurring theme during the tournament. World No. 2Anders Antonsenhad earlier withdrawn from the India Open, citing severe air pollution, while Loh Kean Yew admitted to experiencing breathing issues and said he limited outdoor exposure and wore masks when not competing.
The India Open has already been under scrutiny this year following allegations of an unhygienic environment at theKD Jadhav Indoor Hall, which was initially designated as the training venue. After complaints of bird droppings there for a second consecutive year, organisers shifted training sessions to the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium — a venue also scheduled to host theWorld Championships later this year.
With incidents involving monkeys, pigeons and now bird droppings affecting live matches, questions are growing louder over venue preparedness and hygiene standards at one of India’s flagship international badminton tournaments.
