NEW DELHI: Controversy continues to mar the India Open Super 750 badminton event at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here. After complaints about city air quality, dirty surroundings, lack of heating and a monkey menace, the spotlight shifted on Thursday to a bizarre new low – bird droppings on the court halted play twice during the men’s singles clash between India’s H S Prannoy and Singapore’s former world champion Loh Kean Yew.The interruptions came at critical junctures of the match. The first stoppage occurred when Prannoy was leading 16-14 in the opening game. As play halted, Loh walked up to the net, glanced upwards towards the roof and made a retching gesture that was captured clearly in the live broadcast.Play resumed after a delay of several minutes, only for the farce to repeat itself in the deciding third game. With Prannoy again in front, this time at 1-0, the Indian shuttler pointed upwards with his racquet, drawing the chair umpire’s attention to the issue. Once again, play was stopped.On both occasions, however, the broadcaster chose opacity over transparency. Instead of showing the courts being cleaned after the ‘incident’, cameras cut away to shots of spectators in the stands and coaches seated courtside.Compounding the confusion, commentators offered misleading explanations, telling viewers that a strip of white tape had come loose and was being fixed, a claim that stood in stark contrast to what players and those inside the arena had witnessed.It was only after the match that clarity emerged. “I think it was bird s*** which kind of halted the match,” Prannoy said. Pressed again by another journalist to confirm the reason for the interruptions, Prannoy was unequivocal. “The two stoppages were for bird s****.”The Badminton World Federation (BWF) subsequently issued a statement saying, “The feedback received – both positive and constructive – is invaluable in shaping the best possible environment for this tournament and future championships. We also acknowledge the comments shared by players and the subsequent media coverage. “Managing factors related largely to seasonal conditions, such as the haze and cold weather affecting air quality and temperature inside the venue, has posed challenges this week. While some areas of implementation, including general cleanliness and hygiene plus animal control have required attention, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) has acted promptly to address these concerns,” the BWF said.It added: “Insights gathered this week will guide further upgrades to deliver a world-class World Championships experience in August, where the seasonal issues are not expected being as severe.”Loh Kean Yew, meanwhile, used the opportunity to speak more broadly about the conditions. “It’s probably the weather here, everyone’s stamina has just dropped two levels now,” Loh said. “There’s haze all around. The weather is not so good. My health has dropped quite a bit. I’m just playing one match at a time. I breathe less here. I wear my mask when I can. Other than that, I try to stay indoors as much as possible.”
