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Play was briefly suspended at the YONEX-SUNRISE India Open Super 750 on Saturday after debris fell onto Court No. 1 during a women’s doubles semifinal, intensifying concerns over venue conditions at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi.

The incident occurred during the semifinal clash between top-seeded Chinese pair Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning and sixth-seeded South Koreans Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee. With Liu preparing to serve at 6–3 in the opening game, debris suddenly dropped from above onto the playing surface, forcing officials to halt the match immediately.

Visibly surprised, Liu laughed in disbelief and pointed towards the chair umpire, while both pairs left the court looking uneasy. Sweepers were summoned to clear the court, and play resumed only after several minutes of cleanup.

The episode has added to mounting criticism of the tournament venue, which has already drawn complaints from players regarding hygiene, safety and infrastructure. Earlier in the week, athletes raised concerns over bird droppings on courts, poor cleanliness in non-playing areas and the presence of stray animals inside the stadium complex. Reports of monkeys in the spectator stands further heightened safety worries.

Air quality has also been a major issue, with several players struggling in Delhi’s winter haze and cold conditions. Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt was among those who publicly expressed discomfort, citing pollution and substandard surroundings as factors affecting performance and recovery.

In response, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) acknowledged the feedback, noting that while seasonal challenges such as haze and cold were unavoidable, the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex represented an improvement over the earlier KD Jadhav Stadium. The BWF also said the Badminton Association of India (BAI) had implemented corrective steps, including enhanced cleanliness, hygiene measures and animal control.

However, Saturday’s incident has once again raised questions about preparedness and standards at one of India’s premier international badminton events, particularly with New Delhi set to host the BWF World Championships later this year.