Bird droppings stop India Open match twice, raising venue concerns
“An India Open badminton match was halted twice after bird droppings were spotted on court, adding to concerns over venue readiness.”
Key points
- An India Open badminton match was halted twice after bird droppings were spotted on court, adding to concerns over venue readiness.
- The Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium is also due to host the World Championships later this year, increasing scrutiny of conditions.
Play at the India Open badminton tournament was interrupted twice after bird droppings were seen on Court 1 during India’s HS Prannoy match against Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew, according to Indian media reports.
Officials reportedly stopped the contest in the first game to clean the surface and then halted it again in the third game when fresh droppings appeared. Prannoy acknowledged the disruption after the match, saying it appeared to be bird droppings.
The incident intensified scrutiny of the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, which is set to host the Badminton World Championships in August. Reports in recent days have pointed to additional issues at the venue, including birds inside practice areas and even a monkey sighting in the stands.
While the Badminton Association of India has defended arrangements, media coverage said the episode adds to pressure on organisers and the Badminton World Federation, which is monitoring preparations. Some players have also flagged concerns about conditions around the event, including pollution, weather and the suitability of warm-up areas for elite competition.
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