India Open Bird Poop Incident: An Unforeseen Disruption
An unexpected and highly unusual event recently disrupted an India Open badminton match. Specifically, bird droppings landed on the court, halting a crucial game between HS Prannoy and Loh Kean Yew. This significant India Open bird poop incident occurred at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, immediately drawing attention to the tournament’s conditions.
Initially, officials paused the second-round encounter when Prannoy held a 16–14 lead in the first game. Later, the match faced another stoppage for the same reason during the crucial third game. Consequently, this unique situation garnered significant attention.
Concerns Over Venue Conditions Emerge
These disruptions happened just two days after the Badminton Association of India (BAI) assured everyone that pigeons were only present at the practice courts. This statement clearly contrasted with the on-court reality. Meanwhile, Prannoy and Loh, engaged in an intense contest, paused their high-stakes game as officials promptly cleaned the playing surface.
While standard procedures allow court wiping at player requests, and referees swiftly address issues like blood spills, stoppages due to bird droppings are exceedingly rare. Furthermore, such an incident is particularly unusual during a major international tournament held at a prominent venue. Observers noted the peculiar nature of these delays.
Official Confirmation and Player Perspective
After the match, which Prannoy ultimately lost in three games, the Indian player confirmed the cause of the interruptions. He stated, “I think it was bird shit which halted the game.” However, Prannoy commendably chose not to criticize the playing conditions, demonstrating sportsmanship. His focus remained on the competition.
India Open badminton match between Loh Kean Yew and HS Prannoy halted at 16-14 in the first game after bird poop lands on court at Indira Gandhi stadium. Match was halted for the same reason in game 3.
2 days ago BAI had stated that pigeons were only there in practise court. pic.twitter.com/SFlqsEHiRG— jonathan selvaraj (@jon_selvaraj) January 15, 2026
Broader Challenges Faced by India Open
The India Open has, in fact, faced increasing scrutiny over its venue conditions. For example, World No. 2 Anders Antonsen previously withdrew from the tournament. He cited Delhi’s severe pollution crisis, declaring the city unsuitable for badminton tournaments during this period. Consequently, this raised significant environmental health concerns.
Similarly, Loh Kean Yew also voiced his concerns, detailing breathing issues experienced in Delhi. The Singaporean player explained that he had been wearing masks and limiting outdoor exposure for the past month due, specifically, to hazardous pollution levels. This highlights the broader environmental challenges.
Past Hygiene Complaints at Training Venues
Concerns about hygiene previously surfaced at the training venue, the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall. Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt, for instance, openly complained about bird droppings there. She labelled the facility “unclean” for the second consecutive year, underscoring persistent issues. These long-standing hygiene concerns contributed to the larger India Open bird poop controversy.
Following this wave of criticism, organizers relocated the tournament. They moved it from the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall to the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Significantly, the latter venue is also slated to host the World Championships later this August. This move aimed to address player feedback and improve conditions.
