A series of bizarre incidents have plagued the India Open 2026, leaving organizers red-faced. On Thursday, HS Prannoy's pre-quarterfinal match against Singapore's Loh Kean Yew was halted twice due to bird droppings falling onto the court. This occurred just a day after a monkey was spotted in the stands of the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
The interruptions in the match between Prannoy and Loh, a former world champion, occurred on Court 1, the main television court. The first stoppage happened when Prannoy was leading 16-14 in the opening game, and the second occurred early in the third game with Prannoy ahead 1-0. Tournament officials were called onto the court to clean the playing surface with tissues and wipes. Prannoy ultimately lost the match 21-18, 19-21, 14-21.
Prannoy confirmed the reason for the halts, stating, "it was bird sh*t that kind of halted the game". Spectators and commentators were initially puzzled by the stoppages. Loh Kean Yew did not directly comment on the bird droppings but mentioned concerns about the pollution in Delhi, noting that "everyone's stamina just dropped like two levels" and that he was taking precautions such as wearing a mask.
The monkey sighting on Wednesday added to the организационных challenges. A security official confirmed that the monkey entered the spectator area and was removed promptly after a complaint. While play wasn't disrupted, the incident raised questions about venue security.
These incidents follow complaints about the conditions at the tournament. Danish player Mia Blichfeldt had criticized the "unhealthy" conditions, citing dirty floors, dirt on the courts, and the presence of birds and bird droppings. In response, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) stated that there were no issues at the main playing arena and that Blichfeldt was referring to the training venue, the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall. However, Korean men's doubles player Kang Min Hyuk posted a video of another monkey at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall.
World No. 2 Anders Antonsen of Denmark withdrew from the India Open, citing the city's pollution crisis and deeming Delhi unfit to host badminton tournaments at this time of year. Despite the concerns, Prannoy downplayed the conditions, saying, "It's pretty same for all the players out there. When you're on court, it doesn't matter".
The series of unfortunate events has put the organizers under pressure to address the concerns and ensure a safe and hygienic environment for the remainder of the tournament. The BAI has assured tighter security measures.
