NEW DELHI: In an unusual turn of events, the 2026 India Open has drawn widespread attention for reasons extending well beyond badminton itself, with animals unexpectedly becoming part of the tournament narrative.
For the first time, BadmintonPlanet.com finds itself reporting on monkeys and birds rather than match tactics and scorelines, after multiple incidents involving wildlife inside the competition venue sparked debate across the badminton community.
Social media footage circulating over the past two days shows a monkey calmly sitting among spectator seats at the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi, casually snacking while matches continued below. Many fans initially dismissed the images as AI-generated content, but further verification confirmed the presence of a live monkey inside the arena.
While some spectators found the scene amusing, concerns were quickly raised about safety and professionalism, with observers questioning how a wild animal could access a venue hosting a top-tier international badminton tournament.
Videos of the monkey inside the arena can be viewed below:
The unusual scenes did not end there. During the second-round men’s singles match between Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew and India’s HS Prannoy, play was temporarily halted after bird droppings landed directly on the court.
Officials were forced to step in and clean the affected area before play could resume, creating an unexpected interruption in what was otherwise a high-intensity contest.
Despite the disruption, Loh Kean Yew maintained his composure to secure a hard-fought 18-21, 21-19, 21-14 victory, booking his place in the quarterfinals.
Additional footage showed tournament officials wiping bird droppings from the playing surface before allowing the match to continue:
Beyond these incidents, broader concerns over playing conditions at the New Delhi venue have resurfaced.
World number three Anders Antonsen of Denmark revealed that severe air pollution was the primary reason behind his decision to withdraw from the India Open for the third consecutive year, despite receiving a US$5,000 fine from the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Denmark’s women’s singles player Mia Blichfeldt echoed similar frustrations after her first-round victory, stating that conditions had not improved since last year and urging governing bodies to act.
“The conditions are really poor. It was dirty last year and it is no different this year,” Blichfeldt said. “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.”
Watch Mia Blichfeldt’s interview below:
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.
pic.twitter.com/MnuOgnadWy— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News)
January 13, 2026
As the tournament continues, the spotlight remains firmly on whether organisers and the BWF will address these concerns, with players and fans alike calling for conditions befitting a premier event on the international badminton calendar.
