The India Open 2026 is facing increased scrutiny after a men's singles match was disrupted by bird droppings falling onto the court. The incident occurred during the pre-quarterfinal match between India's H.S. Prannoy and Singapore's Loh Kean Yew at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.

The match was halted twice due to the droppings, once late in the first game and again at the start of the third. Prannoy confirmed after the match that "it was bird shit which kind of halted the game". An official was called to clean the court with tissues and wipes, causing delays of approximately three to four minutes each time. Despite the interruptions, Prannoy lost to Loh Kean Yew with scores of 21-18, 19-21, and 14-21.

This incident follows complaints about the conditions at the tournament. Danish player Mia Blichfeldt had earlier voiced her concerns about the cleanliness of the venue, stating that "the floors are dirty and there is a lot of dirt on the courts" and highlighting the presence of birds and their droppings. These remarks were made in reference to the KD Jadhav Stadium, which serves as the training venue. In response to Blichfeldt's initial complaints, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) General Secretary Sanjay Mishra claimed that the main playing arena was clean and "pigeon-free".

The India Open, a Super 750 tournament, has been moved from the KD Jadhav Stadium to the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium this year. The incident has sparked criticism and has been described as an "embarrassment for the whole country".

Adding to the woes, Danish shuttler Anders Antonsen withdrew from the India Open 2026, citing air pollution concerns in New Delhi. Antonsen expressed his hope that the air quality would improve before the BWF World Championships, which are scheduled to be held in the city later in the year. He also mentioned that he was fined USD 5,000 by the BWF. A monkey was also spotted in the spectator gallery a day before the bird dropping incident.

Despite the concerns, Prannoy refrained from criticizing the conditions, stating that they were the "same for all the players". He acknowledged the cold weather but said that players get used to it after the first few points. Loh Kean Yew said he has had worse conditions.