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Blichfeldt Condemns India Open Warm-Up Conditions as BAI Defends Main Arena

Player complaints focus scrutiny on warm-up facilities at a venue slated to host the World Championships in August.

Overview

  • Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt said the warm-up area was dirty with bird droppings and uncomfortably cold, urging a Badminton World Federation review.
  • BAI secretary general Sanjay Mishra countered that her remarks concerned the KD Jadhav training hall, stating the Indira Gandhi competition court is clean and pigeon-free.
  • Canada’s Michelle Li and Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon reported difficulty warming up in the cold, with Intanon suggesting the use of heaters.
  • This year’s India Open moved from KD Jadhav Hall to the larger Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium as a test event for the August 2026 World Championships.
  • There has been no public action from the BWF or detailed remediation plan announced, leaving questions about player health safeguards and operational readiness.