The BWF World Championships 2026 begin in New Delhi on Monday, with organisers leaving little to chance after several disruptions during the India Open earlier this year.
The week-long tournament, being held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium from August 17 to 23, marks the return of the World Championships to India after 17 years.
‘Monkey whisperers’ brought in for the event
One of the most unusual preparations has been the deployment of people who can imitate langur calls to deter monkeys from entering the venue.
The measure follows an incident during the India Open when a monkey entered the stadium, causing embarrassment for organisers. Officials have also introduced measures to prevent pigeons from roosting and soiling the courts, including the use of non-toxic gel.
Former world champion PV Sindhu defended the unusual approach, saying that while people might laugh at the solution, the effort behind it should be appreciated.
Refurbished venue gets early thumbs-up
The stadium has undergone extensive improvements ahead of the prestigious tournament, with organisers aiming to provide better facilities and playing conditions for players and teams.
The preparations have already received encouraging feedback from the Chinese contingent, who trained at the venue on Saturday. World No. 3 Wang Zhi Yi said the stadium had changed significantly, although she noticed some wind on the courts and said players would need to adjust.
Olympic champion Chen Yufei also described the conditions as better than during China’s previous experience at the venue.
Players prepare for changing conditions
Players training in the main hall reported a slight side drift on the courts. For the competitors, understanding the conditions quickly and making adjustments will be an important part of preparation.
The World Championships will feature the leading names in badminton, with India’s campaign led by players including Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and the doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
After the problems witnessed during the India Open, organisers will hope the unusual preparations help ensure that the spotlight remains firmly on badminton when the world’s best players take to the courts.