BAI Issues Peculiar Statement Refuting 'Birds Defecating on India Open Courts' Allegation
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BAI Rejects 'Birds Shitting' Claim at India Open, Cites Player's 'Sensitivity'
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News18•13-01-2026, 21:39
BAI Rejects 'Birds Shitting' Claim at India Open, Cites Player's 'Sensitivity'
•Denmark shuttler Mia Blichfeldt criticized India Open conditions at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium as 'unhealthy' and 'unhygienic', citing cold courts and bird droppings.
•Badminton Association of India (BAI) denied claims, stating Blichfeldt's remarks were about general conditions and personal health sensitivities, not the main playing arena.
•BAI Secretary General Sanjay Mishra clarified Blichfeldt was referring to the KD Jadhav Stadium (training venue) for warm-up issues, not the competition venue.
•Mishra suggested Blichfeldt is 'more sensitive' to dust, and her comments were a 'personal perspective', adding the main arena is clean and pigeon-free.
•Other players like Michelle Li and Ratchanok Intanon also noted cold temperatures and drafty conditions, impacting warm-up and increasing injury risk.
Why It Matters: BAI dismissed player concerns about India Open conditions, attributing them to personal sensitivity and misidentification of venues.