Source:REUTERS/ Bhawika Chhabra
[Saba Sports News] The Indian Open badminton tournament earlier this year exposed numerous venue problems, drawing widespread complaints from players. Frequent intrusions by stray dogs and birds even temporarily halted matches on several occasions. According to recent media reports, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) has launched renovations to the venue to avoid a repeat of such issues at the World Championships in August. In essence, these improvements are BAI’s way of addressing its shortcomings in event organization. In recent years, Indian badminton has developed rapidly, with players achieving growing strength and gaining greater attention from the Badminton World Federation (BWF). However, while competitive standards have risen, the professionalism of tournament operations has failed to keep pace, leading to these awkward situations.
With the World Championships still set to take place at the same venue, the event represents both an opportunity and a test for India. The problems exposed in the open tournament served as an early warning. Resolving issues in advance is far better than facing disruptions during the World Championships. The BWF has endorsed BAI’s renovation efforts, adding that problems such as smog and low temperatures are expected to ease as the seasons change.