The India Open 2026 witnessed an unusual interruption during the men's singles pre-quarterfinal match between India's HS Prannoy and Singapore's Loh Kean Yew. The high-intensity second-round encounter was halted not once, but twice, due to bird droppings falling onto the court at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
The incidents occurred amidst ongoing concerns about the hygiene and playing conditions at the tournament. Just days prior, Badminton Association of India (BAI) secretary general Sanjay Mishra had claimed that the venue was pigeon-free. This statement was made in response to criticism from Danish shuttler Mia Blichfeldt, who had raised concerns about the cleanliness and training conditions. Blichfeldt specifically mentioned bird droppings and general dirtiness at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, the training venue. The BAI clarified that Blichfeldt's comments referred to the training venue and not the main playing arena, which they insisted was clean and pigeon-free.
Adding to the bizarre circumstances, a monkey had been spotted in the spectator gallery a day before the incident.
Usually, badminton courts are cleaned upon request by the players, and referees typically step in to handle blood spills. However, the presence of bird droppings necessitated a rare mid-match cleaning during the Super 750 event.
Despite the unusual interruptions, Prannoy, a former world championship medalist, did not blame the conditions for his defeat. He acknowledged the cold weather but stated that players get used to it after the initial few points. Prannoy said, "I think it was bird shit which halted the game". Loh Kean Yew mentioned having breathing issues and has been wearing masks and staying indoors when not playing, due to Delhi's hazardous pollution levels.
The India Open has faced increased scrutiny regarding the environment of the venue. Danish player Anders Antonsen withdrew from the competition, citing concerns over the hazardous air quality in Delhi. He expressed his hope that the air quality would improve when the city hosts the BWF World Tour Finals later in the year.
