Bird Droppings Disrupt India Open Badminton, Exposing Venue Hygiene Issues Amid Player Frustrations
New Delhi, January 16, 2026 – In a bizarre turn of events at the Yonex-Sunrise India Open Super 750, play was halted twice during HS Prannoy’s second-round match against Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew due to bird droppings falling on the court, highlighting ongoing hygiene concerns at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. The interruptions occurred first in the opening game with Prannoy leading 16-14, and again early in the decider, forcing officials to clean the surface while players expressed disgust.
This incident contradicts claims by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) that the venue was “pigeon-free” after previous complaints, including from Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt about unhygienic conditions. Prannoy, who lost 18-21, 21-19, 14-21, later remarked, “I think it was bird shit which halted the game,” adding to a series of organizational woes, including a monkey spotted in the stands the previous day.
Despite the disruptions, Loh advanced, praising his resilience, while Lakshya Sen became the last Indian in singles, defeating Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto 21-19, 21-11 to reach the quarterfinals. Other Indians like Kidambi Srikanth and the doubles pair Shetty-Rankireddy exited early. The US$950,000 tournament has faced backlash over these issues, with players visibly irritated and calls for better maintenance intensifying.