New Delhi, India – The India Open 2026, a Super 750 tournament, has been embroiled in controversy following complaints from Danish badminton player Mia Blichfeldt regarding the conditions at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. This is not the first time Blichfeldt has voiced concerns about the tournament; she raised similar issues regarding the previous venue, the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, during the 2025 India Open.
Blichfeldt, after winning her first-round match against Chinese Taipei's Chiu Pin-Chian, expressed disappointment that the change of venue had not led to significant improvements. She described the environment as "dirty and unhealthy," stating that players were forced to warm up in multiple layers of clothing due to the cold. She also highlighted hygiene issues, including dirty floors and the presence of birds and bird droppings in the arena.
"I think it's still very dirty and really unhealthy conditions for all the players," Blichfeldt stated. "Everyone is warming up in two layers of pants and winter jackets and gloves and hats." She also noted the cold, which she felt made it difficult for players to properly prepare 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 added.
Blichfeldt warned that these conditions could lead to illness or injury, deeming it unfair to the athletes. Despite her criticisms, she commended the main arena itself, acknowledging its size and suitability for play. "I think the arena is really good," she said. "I'm happy with the court conditions but not the health conditions."
Other players have echoed Blichfeldt's concerns. Canada's Michelle Li also commented on the cold, while former world champion Ratchanok Intanon expressed the need for heaters.
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has responded to Blichfeldt's allegations, refuting the claims of poor conditions in the main playing arena. BAI Secretary General Sanjay Mishra clarified that Blichfeldt's comments referred to the KD Jadhav Stadium, which serves as the training venue, and not the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. He stated that the competition venue is well-maintained and adheres to international standards of cleanliness. "Mia's comments were made in a broader context around general playing conditions and personal health sensitivities, and not about the playing arena at the India Open specifically," Mishra said.
The controversy comes at a crucial time, as India is bidding to host the 2036 Olympics and the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium is slated to host the BWF World Championships in August. Blichfeldt urged the organizers and the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to address the issues, emphasizing the need to uphold professional standards. "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 said.
The BAI has reiterated its commitment to providing a conducive environment for athletes and has announced a review of the conditions. The incident has sparked mixed reactions, with some players supporting Blichfeldt's critique and others praising the arena's upkeep.
