Delhi is taking a series of precautionary steps to keep monkeys and pigeons out of the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium before the BWF World Championships begin on 17 August. The move follows a series of wildlife‑related interruptions that marred the India Open badminton tournament held in the capital in January.
Venue upgrades and wildlife deterrence
The stadium, which first opened for the 1982 Asian Games and was later refurbished for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, will host the world‑class badminton event from 17 to 23 August. Organisers have replaced the existing wooden doors with double‑door systems that lock automatically, reducing the chance of animals slipping inside. High‑grade nets now cover any openings that could serve as entry points for birds or larger fauna.
In addition to physical barriers, officials have applied a non‑toxic gel on surfaces and handles where pigeons are likely to perch. This gel acts as a secondary deterrent, making those spots less attractive to the birds that previously left droppings on the court and caused match stoppages.
Other potential gaps—including roof fissures and exhaust vents—have been sealed or repaired, according to Sanjay Mishra, the general secretary of the Badminton Association of India. Mishra told the BBC that the stadium’s large footprint required a brief presence of a person in the northern block who could imitate the call of a langur, a large long‑tailed monkey used locally to frighten smaller rhesus macaques.
Ambar Pratap Singh, executive director of the Sports Authority of India, confirmed that structural upgrades have been carried out across the three major arenas within the complex. He also noted that lighting issues raised by players during the India Open—specifically shadows appearing on the court—have been corrected.
Historical precedents for animal control
The practice of using langur calls to deter rhesus macaques is not new in Delhi. During the 2010 Commonwealth Games, authorities deployed black‑faced langurs at selected venues for the same purpose. More recently, in 2023, life‑size cutouts of langurs were placed throughout the capital ahead of the G20 summit to keep monkeys at bay.
A video that went viral earlier this week showed a man mimicking a langur’s call, a technique traditionally employed to scare away smaller macaques that are common in the city. Mishra clarified that no dedicated personnel have been hired for the championships; the impersonator was present only briefly to assist in the northern section of the stadium.
Two‑time Olympic badminton medalist PV Sindhu, who will lead India’s women’s singles campaign, commented on the situation via X, noting that India’s solutions may be uniquely local but reflect the nation’s warmth, spirit and hospitality.
Broader challenges and the stakes for India
Beyond wildlife, the India Open highlighted other concerns that Delhi hopes to avoid this time. Pigeon droppings forced a men’s singles match between Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew and India’s HS Prannoy to be halted twice. Air quality also drew criticism; between October and January, pollution levels in northern India routinely reach hazardous thresholds. Loh said he struggled to breathe and kept a mask on in his hotel, while Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt described the conditions as “unhealthy”.
These incidents were particularly embarrassing for a nation eager to cement its reputation as a reliable host of major international sporting events. India is slated to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and has submitted a bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. Successfully staging the BWF World Championships without wildlife or environmental distractions is seen as a crucial test.
The tournament will feature reigning world champions Shi Yuqi of China in the men’s singles and Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the women’s singles. Indian fans will be hoping for a strong showing from Sindhu on home soil, adding further pressure on organisers to keep the focus on athletic performance rather than on any stray animals.
With the stadium’s doors now auto‑locking, nets installed, anti‑pigeon gel applied and gaps sealed, officials are confident that the upcoming week will be dominated by shuttlecock rallies and championship narratives, not by monkeys or pigeons.
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