Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt raised concerns about hygiene conditions at the India Open on Tuesday. The World No. 20 player said she found bird droppings on courts at the warm-up venue. She called the conditions dirty and unhealthy.
Blichfeldt posted about the issues after her first-round win against Chiu Pin-Chian. She beat the Chinese Taipei player 21-19, 21-11 to move into the second round. This is the second year in a row she has complained about conditions at the India Open 2026.
The Danish player said birds were present inside the warm-up halls at KD Jadhav Stadium. She mentioned seeing droppings on court surfaces where players prepare before matches. The 28-year-old also said the warm-up areas were very cold, forcing players to wear jackets, gloves, and extra layers of clothing.
Blichfeldt wrote on social media that she is more sensitive to dirt, dust, and bacteria than some other players. She said falling sick or getting injured because of poor conditions would be unfair. The two-time European Championships bronze medallist asked the Badminton World Federation to step in and enforce better standards.
The Badminton Association of India responded quickly to the complaints. BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra said the comments were taken out of context. He explained that Blichfeldt’s complaints were about the training venue at KD Jadhav Stadium, not the main competition arena.
Mishra said the main playing venue at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium is clean and well-maintained. He added that the competition courts are pigeon-free and dirt-free. Several other players expressed satisfaction with the main arena conditions, according to BAI officials.
The training venue sits about 250 to 300 metres away from the main stadium. Players spend several hours there each day warming up and practicing before moving to the competition courts. Blichfeldt said these preparation areas need the same hygiene standards as the main venue.
This marks the second straight year the Danish shuttler has spoken out about facility issues. She raised similar concerns at last year’s India Open, which was held at the smaller KD Jadhav Arena. Her repeated complaints suggest the problems were not fixed after the 2025 tournament.
Blichfeldt said she is taking extra precautions to avoid getting sick. She is staying in her hotel room as much as possible and limiting what she eats. The player mentioned that warm-up conditions affect fast movements and splits, which could lead to muscle injuries if players are not properly prepared.
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The controversy comes six months before India hosts the World Championships at the same Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in August. This will be the first time in 16 years that India is hosting the World Championships. BAI officials said maintaining world-class standards is a priority for both events.
The warm-up venue issues raise questions about facility management ahead of the bigger tournament. International players will be watching how India handles these complaints. Poor conditions could affect participation and India’s reputation as a host nation.
Blichfeldt advanced to the second round despite her concerns about the venue. Other players competing at the tournament have not publicly commented on the warm-up facilities. The BAI has not announced any immediate changes to the training venue setup.
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