Former India badminton coach Vimal Kumar has echoed concerns over the facilities at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, the venue hosting the ongoing India Open, urging the authorities to take immediate corrective measures and ensure that international standards are upheld.
Talking to News Arena India on Saturday, Kumar did not mince words while assessing the prevailing conditions. “I do agree that the practice courts and several other amenities provided to top players are far from acceptable,” he said, stressing that such shortcomings reflect poorly on the country’s ability to host elite tournaments.
Kumar pointed out that India is keen on staging more international badminton events to aid the growth of the sport and provide valuable exposure to domestic shuttlers. “When India is looking to organise many global competitions, issues like these are uncalled for. The world is watching, and such lapses do not send out the right message,” he remarked.
Rejecting arguments about lack of resources, the former coach emphasised that funding was not the issue. “Let us not say there are no funds. We have enough, but they are not being utilised properly. Look at the condition of the toilets and other basic facilities, it is pathetic. All concerned must show greater responsibility and concern,” Kumar said.
Also read: ‘Bird droppings’ halt match at India Open
The controversy surrounding venue conditions intensified after World No. 3 Anders Antonsen withdrew from the tournament, citing Delhi’s hazardous air quality. “Due to the extreme pollution in Delhi… I don’t think it’s a place to host a badminton tournament,” the Danish shuttler posted on the social media a day earlier.
Antonsen’s compatriot Mia Blichfeldt was the first player to publicly flag issues at the venue. The 28-year-old, ranked 20th in the world, complained after her opening-round match, saying, “I think the floors are dirty. There is a lot of dirt on the courts. There’s bird excrement, and there are birds flying around in the arena.”
However, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) later refuted her remarks, clarifying that the Danish player was referring to the practice courts at the KD Jadhav Hall and not the main competition arena at the IG Stadium.
“The playing arena has been kept clean, dirt-free and pigeon-free, and several players have expressed satisfaction with the conditions at the venue,” the BAI said in an official statement, seeking to allay concerns amid growing scrutiny.
By Joe Williams
