BWF World Championships: Will Drift Be An ‘Uninvited Guest’ For Shuttlers? Chinese Badminton Players Share Positive Review

New Delhi, August 15: The BWF World Championships 2026 is set to start in 2 days. The badminton extravaganza, which will see shuttlers from across the world fight for the coveted gold medal. One of the pivotal parts of any badminton tournament is the drift, which is present in the tournament and can greatly shape the outcome of the game.

That same test can begin from August 17, when the World Championships kick off in New Delhi. With the monsoon season currently looming largely over Delhi, authorities are expected to crank up the air conditioners at full potential. Even the non-toxic gel that has been installed to keep pigeons at bay at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium needs a certain temperature. If the arena gets warm, the gel will lose consistency and drop onto the seats below.

While it will be a relief for those of you who will be coming to cheer the shuttlers, it will be a nightmare for those who will be sweating it out on the court. As players arrived in New Delhi and began their practice sessions at the main hall and the adjacent KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium, they encountered varying conditions, with some describing the courts as relatively stiff and others noticing subtle air movement.

A Chinese doubles player noted that the conditions felt noticeably different from those experienced at the India Open in January, despite the tournament being held at the same venue.

Meanwhile, Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Chen Yu Fei admitted that she has not had enough time to properly assess the court conditions. Fellow Chinese shuttler Wang Zhi Yi said, "For sure, I think the stadium has changed a lot; that's very good. I just finished my training; I feel like there was a little bit of wind on the court, so we need to get used to the conditions," Wang told the media in the mixed zone.

But all the Chinese shuttlers were not that critical of the facilities of the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Li Shifeng said that the weather and the facilities inside the IG stadium have been conducive enough. "The size of the court is really good. I feel like the drift and all and everything, the weather including that, everything is very well maintained and very good as compared to the last time. So yeah, it's a very good place, and even the venue is very well maintained and good," the Chinese shuttler added.

BWF World Championships: How Can Drift Affect Shuttlers?

Even a slight breeze caused by air conditioning, fans, open doors, or ventilation can alter the shuttle's trajectory. This can impact clears, lifts, drops, and smashes, forcing players to adjust their positioning, shot selection, and targeting, while relying more on control and precision.

In the case of Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the AC ducts are located on the sides of all the courts. This can seriously hamper the shuttle trajectory whenever there is a toss service coming on the sidelines. In such a tricky situation, the authorities need to find that delicate temperature where the pigeon-gel is also preserved and too much problems are also not there in the shuttle trajectory.