NEW DELHI: Can the Sports Authority of India (SAI) be absolved of responsibility for the embarrassing mess that unfolded at the India Open Super 750 badminton at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium? That question has grown louder by the day as a cascade of venue-related failures turned one of the BWF World Tour’s marquee events into a case study in administrative neglect.From dirty surroundings and bird droppings landing on the playing court to a monkey roaming the stands and stray dogs wandering inside the stadium complex, the problems were neither isolated nor minor. The sight of an MCD dog-catching van stationed at the venue on Friday served as a stark indicator of how serious the situation had become, and how far the tournament had drifted from basic international standards.
The India Open is being staged at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium (part of the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex), a facility owned and maintained by SAI on behalf of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS). While the Badminton Association of India (BAI) is the event organiser, the responsibility for upkeep and maintenance lies with SAI, a point that several stakeholders believe cannot be brushed aside.“Venue hygiene, safety and basic readiness are not negotiable at a World Tour Super 750 event,” a former India shuttler said, “These are not issues that crop up overnight. Dirty premises, animal intrusion and unfinished work point to systemic failure, not just last-minute lapses.”Against this backdrop, sources tell TOI that the stadium was handed over to the organisers only on Jan 2. “The window was small,” a source in the BAI admitted. “But that does not explain animal intrusions or filthy surroundings. Those are baseline maintenance issues.”“You can’t pass the buck entirely to BAI,” the source said.However, handing the India Open to the IG Stadium without first stress-testing the venue through a national event was a serious misjudgment on the part of BAI too.Action from the organisers came late and felt reactive rather than proactive. Late Thursday night and throughout Friday, a frantic cleaning and scrubbing operation was launched at the IG Stadium. Areas were hastily tidied up and visible attempts were made to fix some of the “dirty” areas.A day into the tournament, after players raised complaints about cold conditions, heaters were installed in the practice arena and other parts of the stadium frequently used by players, a move that only highlighted how poorly prepared the venue had been at the start.“Fixing things after players complain is the worst possible approach,” a former India shuttler said. “By then the damage is already done, reputationally and otherwise.”While the BAI, as the primary organiser, cannot be absolved of responsibility, especially with the BWF World Championships scheduled at the same venue in August, the spotlight should also be on SAI’s role as the stadium’s custodian. “The India Open was supposed to be a rehearsal for the World Championships. Instead, it has exposed deep cracks in infrastructure management. If this is not addressed urgently, August could be more damaging,” a former player said.“This is not how the venue of a Super 750 tournament should look, especially a venue that is supposed to host the World Championships later this year. I find it very difficult to see how the World Championships could be held here,” Danish shuttler Mia Blichfeldt turned to Instagram to reiterate her concerns on Friday.“Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Badminton Association of India (BAI) officials are working together to ensure a smooth and safe event,” a SAI official told TOI when contacted for a reaction.“The venues were handed over in time to BAI for setting up Field of Play, Practice area etc. The routine cleaning and maintenance were done in advance. However, presence of pigeons in the high alters of Stadium premises is a real issue. With large openings (air vents, ducts and shafts) in the stadium, it’s a challenge to completely block entry of pigeons. Efforts are being made to block the vents and deploy nets, wherever possible,” the official admitted, “Further stringent SOPs are being established to prevent future occurrences, ensuring success of such events.”Access and movement within the stadium complex only compounded the chaos. The intersection near the mixed zone — a sensitive area used by players, officials, technical staff, broadcasters and the media — witnessed heavy overlap, leading to congestion and confusion. Several players were seen jogging through the mixed zone as part of warm-up routines, while others appeared visibly disoriented, struggling to locate basic facilities such as toilets.Adding to the disarray was visible debris across the complex, with construction activity still underway. Sand, cement and unfinished sections inside the complex reinforced the impression that the tournament had been pushed through in haste.“IG Stadium premises is a huge campus and many upgradation works are ongoing in the premises, including waterproofing work at one of the plaza. However, there’s no construction dump near the main venue, “ SAI said in its defence, adding, “It is pertinent that major investments are needed to overhaul the stadiums, as many services are of the 2010 vintage and therefore outdated requiring continuous attention.”SAI, which is responsible for the maintenance and management of five major stadia in Delhi, including Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Swimming Pool Complex and the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, has dedicated divisions for infrastructure planning, development and maintenance. Its mandate includes ensuring world-class standards, liaising with agencies such as the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), and addressing concerns raised by athletes regarding facility conditions.“The problem is not limited to one tournament or one venue,” a former SAI official said. “There has been a steady dilution of maintenance standards. Stadiums are overused for other purposes, under-maintained and often repurposed for non-sporting events without adequate restoration.”Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, also under SAI’s control, has frequently hosted non-sports events such as concerts, weddings and private functions during off-seasons. In Feb 2024, a wedding pandal collapsed at the venue, raising serious questions about safety protocols and oversight.
