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India Open: Venue Woes Mar Badminton World Championship Rehearsal
15 Jan
Summary
- Commentators face visibility issues due to high-positioned tribune lighting.
- On-court lighting flickered during matches, attributed to human error.
- Stadium access creates congestion, mixing players, officials, and media.
The ongoing India Open badminton tournament has exposed several operational shortcomings at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, with organizers acknowledging the need for improvements before the BWF World Championships in August. Challenges include inadequate commentary tribune positioning, leading to poor visibility for commentators who are forced to rely on screens. On-court lighting also experienced issues, with brief dimming during rallies, though attributed to human error.
Further concerns involve stadium access, where the mixed zone experiences significant congestion due to overlapping movement of players, officials, and media. Basic facilities like toilets are also noted as being inconveniently located. These venue-related issues have drawn scrutiny from players and technicians alike.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is conducting regular venue inspections to assess and guide improvements. While immediate steps have addressed cold weather concerns with heaters, the upcoming World Championships in August will present challenges of high temperatures and humidity. India is set to host this major event, aiming to showcase its capability in managing large-scale international tournaments.
