Source: Sipa USA/Sydney
[Saba Sports News] During the women’s singles event at the 2025 India Badminton Open, Chinese player Gao Fangjie was overturned by Thai player Chochuwong Pornpawee, missing out on the quarter-finals. After the match, Gao returned to the hotel to rest, but an unexpected incident occurred. She got trapped in the elevator provided by the organizers, which was stuck between the 8th and 9th floors due to a power failure, causing all the elevator buttons to become unresponsive. Gao immediately contacted her teammates and informed the hotel management; she then squatted down in place, waiting for rescue. This year’s India Open has been fraught with problems, with even local star Pusarla Venkata Sindhu complaining about the harsh climate in New Delhi. It is reported that due to smog, visibility in New Delhi is very low. Outside the venue, there is heavy fog, while inside the venue, there is light mist. Even the light racks above the competition area have many pigeons perched on them; if luck runs out, they might get hit by bird droppings. As a World Badminton Federation Super 750 event, compelling top players to participate is meant to attract more spectators, but the audience at the Indian venue is sparse. One may question how athletes can compete seriously in such an environment. In response, some fans criticized the World Badminton Federation for prioritizing profit and showing no concern for the athletes’ well-being.