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Top Shuttler Withdraws Again: Why Delhi's Extreme Pollution Forced His Exit

Danish badminton star Anders Antonsen has pulled out of the India Open for the third consecutive year. He directly blamed the "extreme pollution" in Delhi, questioning if it's a suitable place for a tournament. This decision has cost him a $5,000 fine from the sport's governing body. His complaint adds to previous concerns raised by other players about conditions at the event.

Key Points: Anders Antonsen Withdraws from India Open Citing Delhi Pollution

  • Anders Antonsen cites Delhi's severe pollution as his reason for withdrawing for a third year
  • He expresses hope conditions improve for the World Championships in August
  • The withdrawal results in a $5,000 fine from the Badminton World Federation
  • His complaint follows a compatriot's allegations about hygiene at the venue last year
2 min read

Antonsen cites Delhi's 'extreme pollution' as reason behind BWF India Open withdrawal

Danish star Anders Antonsen withdraws from the BWF India Open for the third straight year, citing Delhi's "extreme pollution" and incurring a $5,000 fine.

"Due to the extreme pollution in Delhi at the moment, I don't think it's a place to host a badminton tournament. - Anders Antonsen"

New Delhi, Jan 14

Four-time world championship medallist shuttler Anders Antonsen of Denmark revealed that his withdrawal from the BWF India Open for the third year in a row is due to Delhi's "extreme pollution".

"Many are curious as to why I have pulled out of the India Open for the third consecutive year. Due to the extreme pollution in Delhi at the moment, I don't think it's a place to host a badminton tournament," Antonsen shared on Instagram.

The 28-year-old further expressed his hopes for improved conditions when the venue hosts the BWF Badminton World Championships in August. He stated, "Crossing my fingers that it will be better in the summer when the World Championship takes place in Delhi."

Antonsen, who last competed at the India Open in 2023, where he was eliminated in the second round, also said his withdrawal has resulted in a USD 5,000 fine imposed by the Badminton World Federation. "As a result, BWF once again has fined me USD 5000," he concluded.

Antonsen's withdrawal came less than a day after his compatriot, Mia Blichfeldt, complained about hygiene conditions at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. BAI, however, rejected the allegations by the World No. 20 Dane, stating that her comments concerned general playing conditions and were not related to the playing arena for the BWF World Tour Super 750 event.

This year, the India Open, a BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament, moved from the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall to the much larger multi-purpose hall in the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex.

The tournament serves as a dress rehearsal for the prestigious BWF World Championships 2026. It will be India's second hosting of the Badminton World Championships, following 2009, when it was held at Hyderabad's Gachibowli Indoor Stadium.

Notably, Blichfeldt had also made similar allegations about the India Open last year, blaming the dense smog in India and bird droppings inside the stadium for the illness she developed after the event.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who visited Delhi last winter, I can understand his concern. The air quality was visibly poor. It's a shame because India has such passionate badminton fans. Hopefully, the summer championships will have better conditions.
V
Vikram M
While the pollution is a real problem, pulling out last minute and then complaining on social media feels disrespectful. He knew the venue. BAI should also be more proactive in addressing these concerns transparently instead of just rejecting allegations.
P
Priya S
This is so disappointing! I was looking forward to watching him play. Delhi's winter pollution is a known issue; maybe BWF should consider scheduling the India Open for a different season altogether? March or October might be better.
R
Rohit P
Health comes first, yaar. Can't blame him. But it hurts our image as a sporting host. We managed the Cricket World Cup brilliantly. Need that same level of planning and infrastructure for badminton. Hope the 2026 Worlds go smoothly!
K
Kavya N
The fine of $5000 shows BWF isn't taking excuses lightly. But this is a wake-up call. Indoor air purification systems in the stadium should be mandatory for events in January. Let's solve the problem, not just get defensive.

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