A surprising disruption at the India Open Super 750 badminton event in New Delhi momentarily halted play when bird poop fell onto the court, forcing officials to briefly stop a high-profile match and clean the playing surface. The incident added to a growing list of unexpected challenges at the prestigious tournament.
The episode took place on Court 1 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, where India’s H S Prannoy was locked in a competitive pre-quarterfinal battle against Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew. On two separate occasions, play was stopped as foul matter descended from above, prompting staff to enter the court and wipe the affected area before action could resume.
Match interrupted twice
The first stoppage occurred in the opening game when Prannoy was leading 16-14. After ground officials cleared the spot quickly, play continued until another similar interruption transpired early in the deciding game. These unforeseen pauses drew puzzled reactions from both players and spectators, as they awaited clarification on the unusual cause of the stoppages.
Prannoy later acknowledged the cause in the mixed zone, describing the interruption in candid terms. Despite the interruptions, he tried to maintain his focus and competitiveness against his former world champion opponent, though he eventually lost the match.
Play resumed as normal
Officials acted swiftly to address the immediate issue each time, ensuring the court surface was safe for the players before play resumed. While the stoppages did not directly alter the outcome of the match, they quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the tournament, underlining the unpredictability of indoor sports events when external factors come into play.
Broader concerns at the venue
This incident followed other odd developments at the same venue, including a monkey sighting in the spectator stands earlier in the week and prior complaints by players about hygiene and cleanliness. Danish shuttler Mia Blichfeldt had earlier criticised conditions at the stadium and practice halls, highlighting concerns about sanitation.
Organisers and the Badminton Association of India (BAI) had previously assured that the venue was free of pigeons and suitable for competition. However, the recurring disruptions have sparked renewed scrutiny of maintenance, safety, and environmental control at one of India’s key international sporting arenas.