Imagine it was India: Ashmita Chaliha calls for Indonesia Masters terms

Ashmita Chaliha has questioned the conditions at the Indonesia Masters Super 100 after she shared a video from the venue of the tournament which appeared to show signs of smog inside the stadium. The Indian shuttler drew comparisons to the intense scrutiny Indian badminton events have faced over air quality and pollution.

Chaliha is competing at the Indonesia Masters, where she entered the women’s singles draw as the top seed. She shared the video on her Instagram Story, showing what appeared to be foggy conditions at the stadium.

WATCH THE VIDEO:

“Imagine if this tournament was held in India. There would already be so many complaints and controversies about air quality/smoke/pollution. BTW,” wrote Chaliha.

Chaliha advanced to the quarter-finals in Indonesiahe beat Thailand’s Pornpich Choeikeewong 21-17, 23-21 in the round of 32 before beating Malaysia’s Goh Jin Wei 10-21, 21-10, 21-17 in the round of 16.

Her post comes against the backdrop of the controversy surrounding the India Open 2026 in New Delhi.

WHY INDIA OPEN 2026 WAS CRITICIZED

The India Open faced criticism earlier this year, particularly over Delhi’s winter air quality. Danish player Anders Antonsen missed the tournament and accepted a fine, while Mia Blichfeldt also raised concerns about hygiene.

Reports of bird droppings around the courts and monkeys at the venue added to the scrutiny, eventually prompting India’s sports ministry to ask the organizers for an explanation.

The Badminton Association of India defended the event, while the BWF acknowledged the players’ feedback but maintained that the venue met the required standards. Despite the controversy, Delhi has retained the India Open, with the next edition scheduled for February 2-7, 2027, before the tournament returns to its January window in 2028.

DELHI REDEEMS ITSELF IN THE WORLDS

The Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium was given a chance to change the story when it hosted the BWF World Championship in August 2026. The tournament gave the Indian organizers an opportunity to showcase the same venue after the criticism that followed the India Open.

The August schedule also avoided the worst of Delhi’s winter pollution, while more attention was paid to the cleanliness and management of the venue. The successful World Cup offered a contrasting picture of the venue, which was subjected to intense scrutiny at the start of the year.

However, Chalih’s post reopened the debate about the different standards applied to tournaments in India and elsewhere. Her comments come as she competes in Indonesia herself, giving the discussion the perspective of a player who has experienced the conditions firsthand.

Chaliha secured her place in the quarterfinals on court after two victories in Indonesia. The top seed will now look to continue her run as she bids for another strong result on the BWF World Tour.

– The end

Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

03 Sep 2026 13:14 IST