'Heavy air pollution'; World No 3 Anders Antonsen withdraws from Indian Open, fined 5000 USD

NEW DELHI: World number three Anders Antonsen of Denmark pulled out of the India Open Super 750 badminton tournament, citing Delhi's heavy air pollution. This is the third consecutive time that Antonsen refused to play in the India Open, citing the same reason. Antonsen wrote on social media that he does not think Delhi is a suitable place to hold a badminton tournament in the current conditions. The Badminton World Federation fined Antonsen $5,000 for pulling out of the tournament.

Earlier, Danish women's player Mia Blichfeldt had sharply criticised the organisers, citing inconveniences. Mia alleged that there were insufficient facilities to combat the cold and that the warm-up court was covered in bird droppings.

Indian superstar PV Sindhu was eliminated in the first round of the India Open women's singles. Vietnam's Nguyễn Thùy Linh defeated Sindhu in a three-game battle. Malvika Bansod in the women's singles, K. Srikanth and Malayali player H.S. Prannoy in the men's singles, won the first round.