NEW DELHI: After last year's controversy around the playing conditions at the India Open, Denmark shuttler Mia Blichfeldt has once again raised concerns on Tuesday, saying the change of venue has not improved the situation for players. The tournament has been moved to the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi this year.
The shift was made with the World Championships in mind, which India will host at the same venue in August. With India also publicly expressing its ambition to host the 2036 Olympics, such comments on playing conditions could impact the overall perception of the nation's readiness.
Blichfeldt, who reached the second round on Tuesday, said she expected better conditions after the move from the KD Jadhav Hall. However, she felt little had changed.
“I actually hoped it was going to be better than the other hall,” Blichfeldt told PTI.
She described the environment as dirty and unhealthy. She said players were forced to warm up wearing multiple layers of clothing because of the cold inside the stadium.
“I think it’s still very dirty and really unhealthy conditions for all the players. Everyone is warming up in two layers of pants and winter jackets and gloves and hats.”
The cold, she said, made it hard for players to prepare properly before matches.
“It’s not good warm-up preparation for a player who has to go on court and move fast and go in splits,” she said.
Blichfeldt added that while organisers were trying their best, more work was needed.
“I know everyone is doing their best to make the conditions better for the players, but I think there is still a way to go,” she added.
Last year, she also criticised conditions at the KD Jadhav Hall in Delhi during the India Open. Asked if anything had improved since then, her answer was clear.
“To be honest, no,” she said.
She shared a troubling experience from the warm-up courts, adding, "Yesterday when I came to the warm-up courts, there were birds flying around and shitting on the court. That’s really unhealthy and not normal.”
Still, she acknowledged the efforts of volunteers and officials.
“But again, I'm sure that everyone around in the Indian association and everyone as a volunteer here do their best. So I'm hoping that it's going to be even better for World Championships in the summer.”
Blichfeldt urged the organisers and the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to step in.
“I don’t think so many other athletes would play under these conditions,” she said.
“I hope everyone around the tournament, the association, and also BWF is going to look into this venue because it’s a professional sport.”
She warned that poor conditions could lead to injuries or illness.
“If players get sick or get injured because of these conditions, it’s unfair.”
Despite her concerns, Blichfeldt praised the main arena.
"I think the arena is really good. It's huge," she said. "I'm happy with the court conditions but not the health conditions."
Canada’s Michelle Li also felt the cold at the venue.
"I felt kind of cold, it was hard to warm up in there," Li said.
Former world champion Ratchanok Intanon echoed the concern. "We need something like heaters," Intanon said, hoping for warmer conditions during the World Championships.
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