New Delhi, Jan 16 (NationPress) The Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, which is presently the venue for the esteemed BWF India Open 2026, is under significant scrutiny due to a series of hygiene and safety issues, leaving organizers grappling with a mounting crisis at this Super 750 event.

In a troubling development, stray dogs were observed roaming the grounds on Friday. Although there were no reported biting incidents, the presence of an MCD dog-catching van stationed at the location highlights the seriousness of the situation. Officials were actively searching for a black dog that had been wandering around the stadium.

In a rather ironic moment, another stray dog was seen lounging about 30–40 meters away, soaking up the winter sun.

This canine encounter follows a previous bizarre incident where a monkey was spotted freely wandering the stands, close to the players’ practice area. This prompted Korean player Kang Min-hyuk to humorously comment on social media about “free animal admission.”

The ongoing tournament, serving as a test event leading up to the BWF World Championships in August, has faced numerous complaints from top international athletes right from the start.

In response to the issues raised by players and subsequent media coverage, the Badminton World Federation stated on Thursday: “We acknowledge the feedback shared by players and the ensuing media attention.”

It further elaborated, “Managing environmental factors, such as haze and low temperatures affecting air quality and venue temperature, has presented challenges this week. However, our evaluations confirm that the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex is a notable improvement over KD Jadhav Stadium, offering enhanced infrastructure.

“While certain aspects, including overall cleanliness, hygiene, and animal control, have needed improvement, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) has swiftly acted to address these issues.

“Players have also recognized positive upgrades to the playing surface, gymnasium, and medical facilities.”

On Thursday, a match between India’s HS Prannoy and Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew was interrupted twice due to bird droppings falling from the ceiling onto Court 1, prompting officials to rush in with wipes for a mid-game cleanup.

On the opening day of the tournament, Danish player Mia Blichfeldt termed the venue “dirty” and “unhealthy.” Her compatriot, world No. 3 Anders Antonsen, also cited New Delhi’s poor air quality (AQI) as a reason for withdrawing from the tournament, leading to a USD 5,000 fine from the BWF.