Inside India Open Stadium: Garbage on the floor, stench in washrooms and a lackadaisical tournament

With Lakshya Sen’s exit from the 2026 India Open on Friday evening, the last bit of home challenge also went out at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. What remained after that was silence in the stands, disappointment on the court, and an uncomfortable truth hanging in the air because this tournament had been something more than just badminton.

Lakshya fought hard against Chinese Taipei’s world No. 12 Lin Chun-Yi in the men’s singles quarterfinals, winning the opening game 21-17 as chants of “Go Lakshya Go” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” echoed around a half-filled stadium, which is also India’s largest multi-purpose sports venue.

But the momentum didn’t last long as Chun-Yi clawed his way back, and when Lakshya finally dropped down to the floor after losing the decider, the noise died down. For Indian badminton fans, that moment also marked the end of local interest. No Indian will feature in the semi-finals across any category.

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With badminton now taking a back seat, the spotlight has fully shifted to the controversy that has surrounded the India Open for over a week - a controversy caused not only by the venue and conditions, but also by how the administration oversaw the event.

The 2026 India Open, a prestigious BWF Super 750 tournament, was meant to be a showcase. Instead, it has become a warning sign.

This year’s event moved from the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium to the IG Stadium, which is also scheduled to host the BWF World Championships 2026 in August. The India Open was supposed to act as a test event. However, what it has tested is patience - of players, fans, and officials alike.

Pictures tell the real story

Danish shuttler Mia Blichfeldt was among the first to raise concerns this year, too. After complaining about the practice hall and hazardous air, she doubled down on Friday, calling the situation “simply unacceptable and highly unprofessional”. The images she shared showed bird droppings on courts and hazy conditions inside the arena, which were hard to ignore.

Meanwhile, videos of a monkey sitting in the stands went viral a few days ago. Play was also stopped due to pigeon droppings on the court during India’s HS Prannoy’s match against Singapore’s former world champion Loh Kean Yew. The broadcasters attempted to hide the incident, while the commentators shared misleading information instead of criticising the issue and showing the audience what was really happening, something that would have been more transparent.

its really a freakin monkey????? this cant be serious 😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/XlIgxtJKhS pic.twitter.com/DTKjtA8bQP

— zee (@zhiyiilyy) January 14, 2026

The Indian player later admitted that play was stopped because of bird poop, but he did not criticise the conditions or the organisers. These are the signs that are more worrying than the actual problem itself - trying to hide and play safe instead of fixing the issues or asking for accountability. Loh, however, did his bit by expressing surprise at how some people seem to have normalised the situation.

When basic hygiene becomes a concern

Meanwhile, a non-playing member of the Chinese Taipei contingent, speaking anonymously to Firstpost, painted a clear picture. According to them, issues related to air quality, cleanliness, water and food have affected preparations so badly that players are cooking their own meals out of fear. Time that should have been spent resting or training is instead being spent managing basic necessities.

“We are confused why things are like this despite it being an important competition,” the member said, adding that these incidents would influence their decision to return for the World Championships in August.

Can this venue host the world in August?

The Badminton World Federation has since acknowledged issues related to cleanliness, hygiene and animal control, while still insisting that the IG Stadium is fit to host the World Championships. The Badminton Association of India, meanwhile, has promised improvements, with its general secretary Sanjay Mishra calling the India Open a “test event”.

But that explanation has not gone down well. A test event is still an international tournament. A Super 750 is still elite badminton. Players do not show up expecting trial runs. They expect world-class facilities, where they can focus only on the game and not worry about external factors.

One security official informed us that the organisers hired additional maintenance staff and housekeeping personnel after criticism began pouring in following the start of the event on January 13. The question, however, is why these issues were not addressed earlier, when the venue was being prepared for the tournament.

Even a brand new cleaning machine was seen outside the venue. When we asked the operator about it, he said it had been brought in just a day earlier. Despite that, there are still many areas inside the stadium where garbage and filth have been left unattended. Empty beer bottles and cigarette packets can be seen lying around.

The toilets were the worst of all. The floors were dirty, and the smell inside each one was unbearable. A few spectator seats inside the main arena were also broken, while a cheap black curtain was used to separate the playing area from the practice area.

All of this comes at a time when India’s sporting ambitions are growing rapidly. The country wants to host the 2036 Olympic Games, and has already secured the 2030 Commonwealth Games. However, episodes like this highlight a worrying gap between ambition and execution.