Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Antonsen questions India Open's February Delhi schedule over pollution
Anders Antonsen is a badminton player from Denmark.
He is in New Delhi, India, to play in the World Championships.
He says the air there is okay right now and the practice places are nice.
But he is worried about another tournament called the India Open.
That tournament is scheduled to happen in Delhi in February.
Delhi gets a lot of air pollution in the winter months.
Antonsen thinks it is bad for players to play in such polluted air.
He skipped the India Open earlier this year because of the bad air.
He wishes the tournament could happen in August or September instead.
He also says players get a $5,000 fine if they miss big tournaments like this one.
Anders Antonsen questioned the BWF's decision to stage the India Open in Delhi in January or February over winter pollution concerns.
The Danish shuttler had pulled out of the India Open earlier this year over air-quality concerns.
Antonsen said conditions in Delhi ahead of the World Championships have been considerably better and he is satisfied with the facilities.
He noted BWF fines players who skip Super 750 or above events, mentioning an automatic $5,000 fine.
Antonsen said hosting the tournament in August-September would be 'much, much better' from his perspective.
- Who
- Anders Antonsen, a Danish badminton player
- What
- Questioned the BWF's decision to hold the India Open in Delhi in January or February due to pollution concerns
- When
- Ahead of the BWF World Championships, currently being staged in Delhi
- Where
- New Delhi, India
- Why
- He believes air pollution during Delhi's winter months makes the timing a concern for visiting players and prefers an August-September window
- Player
- Anders Antonsen (Denmark)
- Tournament questioned
- India Open
- Timing of concern
- January/February under the new BWF calendar
- Current tournament
- BWF World Championships
- Fine for skipping Super 750 or above
- $5,000
- Preferred timing
- August-September
- Last Delhi visit before this
- Around 3.5 years ago (2023)