India Open 2025: Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark Criticises Unhealthy Conditions at Delhi's Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium

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Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt has criticised the conditions at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, where the India Open Super 750 badminton tournament is held.

She also expressed concerns about pollution levels in Delhi, describing them as unhealthy and unacceptable. Despite a stomach infection, she reached the second round but lost to China's Wang Zhi Yi with scores of 21-13, 16-21, 8-21.

After returning home, Blichfeldt shared her frustrations on Instagram. "Finally home after a long and stressful week in India. It's 2 years in a row now that I get sick during India Open," she wrote. "It's really hard to accept that many weeks of work and preparing, gets wasted because of bad conditions. It's not fair to anyone that we have to train and play in smog, birds shitting on the courts, and dirt everywhere."

Concerns Over Venue Conditions

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) acknowledged logistical challenges due to late access to the venue. BAI Secretary Sanjay Mishra stated they received the stadium only four days before the event, which posed significant challenges. He mentioned they are discussing alternative venues with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and evaluating infrastructure options.

Blichfeldt recounted her ordeal after her Thursday loss, revealing she had been unwell all night before her second-round match. "That night Tuesday was terrible. The only sleep I got was in the morning because I kept throwing up all night," she said. Despite feeling exhausted, she was pleased with her performance but wished she could have played at full strength.

International Players' Concerns

French mixed doubles players Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue also voiced concerns about Delhi's weather conditions. Gicquel noted that while the playing hall was nice, the cold weather and high pollution levels made it difficult to play under optimal conditions.

This issue isn't new; during the 2023 Syed Modi International Super 300 tournament, foreign players highlighted poor conditions at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium. Complaints included bird droppings and dusty courts. Malaysian player Soong Joo Ven later reported muddy water from a hotel faucet upon arriving for the Guwahati Masters Super 100.

Past Incidents Highlight Issues

Former world number one Nozomi Okuhara from Japan shared her challenging experience during the Odisha Open. She faced overcharging by a cab driver and endured a four-hour wait to check into a hotel in Cuttack. These incidents underscore ongoing concerns about facilities and conditions at Indian badminton tournaments.

The recurring issues at these events highlight the need for improved facilities and better planning to ensure players' health and performance aren't compromised by external factors like pollution or inadequate infrastructure.