New Delhi: Denmark shuttler Mia Blichfeldt slammed India Open organisers for ‘unhealthy’ and ‘unacceptable’ playing conditions at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. Blichfeldt, who has returned home after suffering a Round of 16 exit from the tournament, alleged she fell sick for the second year in a row due to bad conditions while playing at the India Open.
The Dane, who is ranked 23 in the world, defeated her Danish counterpart Julie Dawall Jakobsen in straight games in the Round of 32 before losing to China’s Wang Zhi Yi in the Round of 16. Blichfeldt, who was battling a stomach infection, fought hard against Wang in the match but failed to get past her as she crashed out from the tournament.
After returning home, Blichfeldt took to Instagram to lash out at the organisers of the India Open and highlighted the woeful playing conditions in the tournament which is currently underway at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. Blichfledt alleged the players were forced to train and play in smog with birds shitting on the courts and dirt everywhere inside the stadium.
“Finally home after a long and stressful week in India. It’s 2 years in a row now that I get sick during India Open. It’s really hard to accept that many weeks of work and preparing, gets wasted because of bad conditions. It’s not fair to anyone that we have to train and play in smog, birds shitting on the courts, and dirt everywhere,” Blichfledt wrote in an Instagram post.
“These conditions are too unhealthy and unacceptable. @bwf.official. I’m happy that I managed the second round, but I’m far from satisfied,” she added.
Blichfeldt, who suffered a stomach infection ahead of her Round of 16 clash, revealed she had vomited all night and was not in the state to even take the court. However, she fought it out Wang before eventually going down to bow out of the tournament.
BAI responds to Blichfeldt’s criticism
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) responded to Blichfeldt’s criticism of playing conditions at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi during the India Open. BAI said they get access of the stadium the stadium only four days before the start of the event which leads to significant logistical challenges. BAI secretary Sanjay Mishra said the organising boy is evaluating other venues for the future.
“As the host and staging authority for the Yonex Sunrise India Open, the Badminton Association of India gains access to the stadium and its infrastructure only four days before the event, which poses significant logistical challenges,” BAI secretary Sanjay Mishra said in a statement.
“We are already in discussions with the BWF to explore alternative venues and are actively evaluating the infrastructure options,” he added.
Denmark shuttler Mia Blichfeldt has lashed out at the organisers of the India Open 2025 for woeful playing conditions in Delhi. The shuttler, who returned home, alleged the conditions at the stadium were conditions are too unhealthy and unacceptable. Badminton Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
