New Delhi: Badminton World Federation (BWF) secretary general Thomas Lund has appealed for understanding and support from players as the governing body continues to grapple with the scheduling of India Open amidst the national capital’s notorious winter pollution.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Championships, Lund acknowledged the logistical headaches of hosting the Super 750 event during the capital’s peak pollution period. Buoyed by recent team triumphs like the 2022 Thomas Cup title and a consistent pipeline of individual stars, India has become a central pillar of the sport’s global strategy. Because obviously this is a super important tournament, a super important market… we continue to present here in India at the very highest level, “We hope for their continuous support.
Lund admitted that a complete overhaul of the calendar remains a complex challenge While the BWF has attempted to push the tournament slightly later into the year to mitigate health risks. Danish star Anders Antonsen has been the most vocal critic, opting to pay BWF fines to skip the tournament rather than play through January’s hazardous smog, and has publicly urged organisers to shift the event to a different season. Compatriot Mia Blichfeldt, Canadian Michelle Li and Thai Ratchanok Intanon have been critical of the cold conditions in the past, adding that the conditions force athletes to warm up in winter coats and gloves, making match preparation difficult. The determination to keep India prominent on the BWF calendar stems from the country’s massive market potential and its growing pedigree on the court.
