NEW DELHI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Danish shuttler Mia Blichfeldt has renewed her criticism of conditions at the India Open in New Delhi, calling them "unacceptable" and "highly unprofessional" and questioning the city's ability to host the World Championships later this year.
"The past few days in India have been tough - tougher than I honestly expected. I had mentally prepared myself for 'the worst' once again, but the conditions surrounding us are simply unacceptable and highly unprofessional," Blichfeldt said in a statement posted on her social media platform on Friday. "We are here to perform and to stay focused on our preparations, both on and off the court. Unfortunately, under these circumstances, it becomes extremely difficult to focus solely on competing and delivering our best performance."
The world No. 20 had earlier criticized the "unhealthy" conditions on the opening day of the Super 750 event, which is being held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium for the first time. The venue is also set to host the World Championships in August.
Blichfeldt, who returned home after a second-round exit, said, "I am glad that this issue is finally receiving the attention it deserves, and I truly hope for better conditions for players in the future if we are to continue competing in India. I hope Badminton World Federation (BWF) will do more to ensure proper conditions and better protection for the players."
Blichfeldt previously raised similar concerns. Last year, she posted images on social media showing bird droppings on the ground and hazy conditions in the arena.
On Wednesday, Denmark's Anders Antonsen, the men's singles world No. 3, said he withdrew from the India Open for the third straight year, citing "extreme" air pollution in New Delhi. The four-time World Championships medalist was fined 5,000 US dollars by the BWF for his decision.
Bird droppings on the court halted play during a match on Thursday. Monkey sightings in the stands were also reported earlier in the week. ■