New Delhi: 30 days left until general election BWF World Championship After last year’s India Open was marred by pigeon droppings, monkey incursions, dust and facilities issues, organizers promised a trouble-free tournament when it kicked off on Saturday. TOI has learned that cost-effective hybrid shuttlecocks will also be used amid skyrocketing prices of shuttlecocks.Sanjay Mishra, secretary-general of the Badminton Association of India (BAI), said that the shortcomings exposed during the Indian Badminton Open have been fully resolved before the event from August 17 to 23. The Badminton Association of India’s hosting cost is expected to be between 150 and 200 million rupees.“The issues that arose during the India Open have been rectified and I believe this will be one of the best World Championships in all aspects,” Mishra said. He called the India Open a “Test event” and thanked the Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India (SAI) for the extensive upgrades.To eliminate the threat of pigeons, heavy-duty overhead polyethylene bird netting will be installed beneath the roof structure to prevent birds from nesting while allowing normal lighting and ventilation. “The existing nests have also been demolished,” Mishra said. On monkey intrusion, he said the overhead doors that were opened earlier have been sealed, a three-door entry system has been created and 24×7 security personnel have been deployed. To address the problem of stray dogs, BAI is coordinating with the Delhi government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to shift stray dogs to shelter homes, while dog catching teams will continue to be on duty to ensure that there are no stray dogs on the premises.The stadium has also undergone renovations including the installation of a new false ceiling, upgraded toilets, improved drainage to prevent water accumulation during rainy seasons, and powerful glare-free LED lighting to enhance the player and spectator experience.minister of sports Mansukh MandaviyaUnveiling the official mascot ‘Packo’ and the championship anthem, he said, “India is moving towards becoming a sports nation”, adding that the event will mark another milestone in the country’s sports ambitions. BAI Chairman and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called the return of the event after 17 years “a landmark moment” that will leave a lasting legacy for badminton in India.
