India Open 2026: Denmark shuttler Mia Blichfeldt slams 'dirty' playing conditions, complains of bird droppings; Badminton Association of India hits back
(Courtesy : Screengrab/PTI Interview)
According to BAI, Mia Blichfeldt was referring to the KD Jadhav Stadium in her comments.
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has issued an official statement after Denmark shuttler Mia Blichfeldt criticised the playing conditions at the ongoing BWF India Open 2026 being held at the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi.
Blichfeldt, who won her opening round match over Chiu Pin-Chian of Malaysia 21-19, 21-11, voiced her concerns in an interview taken by PTI, drawing attention to what she felt were poor conditions at the venue.
“The conditions are really poor. It was dirty last year, and it is no different this year as well. 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,” she said.
Her comments quickly became a topic of discussion, particularly when the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium is set to host major international events in the future, including the BWF World Championships.
However, in response, the BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra released an official clarification, stating that Blichfeldt’s comments were being interpreted incorrectly and that the main competition arena at the India Open is being maintained to high standards.
“Mia’s comments were made in a broader context around general playing conditions and personal health sensitivities, and not about the playing arena at the India Open specifically. She has clearly stated that the competition venue itself is well maintained,” Mishra said.
He further explained that the Danish player was referring to a different facility when speaking about dust and cleanliness.
“As mentioned in her conversation regarding the warm-up area, it is important to note that she was referring to the KD Jadhav Stadium, which serves as the training venue, and not the main playing arena,” he added.
Mishra also suggested that Blichfeldt’s words were influenced by her individual health concerns rather than the overall condition of the venue.
“As an athlete who is more sensitive to dust and environmental factors, she was sharing a personal perspective on how conditions can sometimes impact her health,” he said.
“The playing arena has been kept clean, dirt-free and pigeon-free, and several players have expressed satisfaction with the conditions at the venue,” he concluded.
The India Open 2026 is running from January 13 to 18 January, boasting a mouthwatering prize pool of US$950,000.
What did Mia Blichfeldt say about the venue at India Open 2026?
Mia Blichfeldt criticised the playing conditions in a video shared by PTI, calling them “really poor” and saying the situation had not improved from last year. She urged the BWF to look into the venue conditions ahead of major events like the World Championships.
How did Badminton Association of India (BAI) respond?
BAI issued an official statement clarifying that Blichfeldt’s comments were not about the main competition arena at the India Open but were related to the training and warm-up venue.
Which facility was Mia Blichfeldt actually referring to?
According to BAI, she was referring to the KD Jadhav Stadium, which is used as the training and warm-up venue, not the main playing arena at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
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Uzma Fatima is a passionate sports journalist who believes every match has a story waiting to be told. Whether it's the grace of Olympic champions, the grit of tennis and badminton battles, or the drama of cricket’s highs and heartbreaks — she loves capturing the emotion behind the action. Off the field, she’s a Formula 1 enthusiast who never misses a race weekend.