Shocked by the sanitary conditions at Nguyễn Thùy Linh’s opening tournament of 2026

The 2026 Super 750 India Open is under heavy scrutiny for the event management by the host nation.

India Open 2026, one of the major tournaments in the BWF Super 750 series, is encountering strong backlash over hygiene and playing environment issues. Visible dust particles during live broadcasts from New Delhi have raised concerns among fans and sparked debates about the host’s organizational standards.

The issue escalated after several players and spectators reported dusty conditions covering the courts, directly affecting match quality. Social media posts with photos showed poor indoor air quality, prompting many to question the environmental control at such a high-level Super 750 event.

Most notably, Mia Blichfeldt, Denmark’s top female singles player, openly expressed her disappointment. In an interview with Indian media, she clearly criticized the conditions at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, the tournament venue.

"The court conditions are no better than last year, even worse in fact. The venue is very dirty and dusty. Even the warm-up area is frequented by pigeons, with droppings everywhere. It’s truly unhygienic.", Blichfeldt stated.

The player who defeated Nguyễn Thùy Linh in the 2024 German Open final also mentioned that athletes even have to wear gloves during practice to avoid direct contact with the dust. She said this is unacceptable for a major international tournament that should uphold the highest safety and hygiene standards.

Besides environmental concerns, Blichfeldt and many fans pointed out other issues like poor lighting, with reflective spots and shadows on the court affecting visibility and performance quality. She emphasized that if these problems are not addressed soon, the venue will struggle to meet the requirements for hosting the World Badminton Championships scheduled in India from August 17 to 23.

Vietnam’s number one player - Nguyễn Thùy Linh is also competing at the 2026 India Open and will have her opening match on the afternoon of January 14, Hanoi time. Her opponent is the host country’s top player and 2019 world champion, Pusarla Venkata Sindhu.