pulled-out-of-india-open-due-to-delhi-pollution-says-antonsen

World No.3 Anders Antonsen said on Wednesday that he was forced to pull out of the ongoing India Open being held in Delhi because of the “extreme” air pollution there.

The four-time World Championships medallist also said he had to pay up a fine of USD 5,000 to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for his decision to opt out.

“Many are curious why I have pulled out of the India Open for the third consecutive year. Due to the extreme pollution in Delhi at the moment, I don’t think it’s a place to host a badminton tournament,” he wrote on his Instagram page.

The Danish shuttler also shared a screenshot of Delhi’s Air Quality Index reading on Instagram, which showed the AQI at 348, which is categorised as hazardous.

Antonsen’s remarks came a day after fellow Dane, Mia Blichfeldt, criticised the playing conditions at the USD-950,000 event.

 

Also Read: Blichfeldt says India Open venue ‘unhealthy’, asks BWF to step in

The India Open is being held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium after the Badminton Association of India (BAI) shifted the venue from the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium, which hosted the tournament in recent years.

The Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium is also scheduled to host the BWF World Championships in August, making the India Open a designated test event.

“Crossing my fingers that it will be better in the summer when the World Championships take place in Delhi. As a result, BWF has once again fined me USD 5,000,” Antonsen wrote.

Although BWF declined to make any comments on Antenson’s claims, as per the Badminton World Federation Player Commitment Regulations, a top committed player is liable to a USD 5,000 fine (Rs 4.50 lakh) for failing to participate in a BWF World Tour Level 1 to 3 tournaments, over and above the standard withdrawal fees.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality has been worsening each year, and its high AQI has remained in the news for the entire duration of the past year, as well as in the new year. The city is often engulfed in a thick layer of smog that has been described as dangerous by doctors.