Danish badminton player Mia Blichfeldt has reignited criticism of India, calling out the gross conditions she has to endure at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi during the India Open 2026, even after raising hygiene concerns last year.
Speaking after her round-of-32 victory, Blichfeldt did not mince words. In a post-match interview, she said, “The conditions are really poor. It was dirty last year, and it is no different this year as well. I hope the BWF will seriously look into the venue conditions because this is not fit for players to compete in, especially if this venue is supposed to host something as big as the World Championships.”
When asked if conditions are better than before, she simply said no, and highlighted specific issues inside the arena, pointing to dirt and bird droppings around the courts. Blichfeldt said:
Yesterday, when I came to one of the warm-up courts. There were birds flying around and shitting on the court. I don’t think I have to tell you that this is very unhealthy and not normal.
VIDEO | India Open 2026: Denmark shuttler Mia Blichfeldt criticises the playing conditions after her R32 win, saying the situation has not improved from last year and urging the BWF to take note ahead of major events.
She says, “The conditions are really poor. It was dirty last… pic.twitter.com/MnuOgnadWy
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 13, 2026
Her remarks have added pressure because the same venue is scheduled to host the 2026 BWF World Championships, and this year’s India Open has been treated as a key test event.
Multiple reports have noted that complaints about cleanliness and facilities at the stadium have surfaced before, with Blichfeldt notably making similar comments last year as well.
The comments quickly went viral online, with many fans and observers expressing frustration over repeated venue issues and calling for stronger oversight to ensure international tournaments meet professional standards.
