PV Sindhu has defended the organisers’ use of monkey deterrent measures ahead of the World Badminton Championships in New Delhi, saying she does not understand the backlash surrounding preparations for the event. The championships begin on August 17 and run through August 23 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
The tournament marks the return of the World Badminton Championships to India after 17 years. Preparations at the stadium have drawn attention because organisers have introduced measures aimed at preventing disruption from monkeys and birds, following issues at the India Open earlier this year.
Organisers prepare Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium
The Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium hosted the India Open badminton tournament earlier in 2026, when the venue faced international criticism over hygiene concerns, a monkey menace and bird excreta interrupting play. In January, monkeys briefly disrupted the India Open from the spectator stands, with images of the incident receiving international attention.
For the World Championships, the Badminton Association of India and the Sports Authority of India have worked together on a makeover of the venue. Their preparations include heavy-duty polyethylene bird nets and non-toxic deterrent gels.
Organisers have also hired three trained monkey whisperers. The handlers mimic the calls of langurs to deter rhesus macaques, which are commonly found in central Delhi, including around the stadium area. Rhesus macaques are believed to be wary of langurs, which are considerably larger.
The approach is being used because actual langurs cannot be deployed for such work. Their use in these activities was banned in 2012. The monkey whisperers are therefore part of a broader set of measures designed to reduce the risk of animal interference during the August 17-23 competition.
The remedial work has been praised in some quarters, but the focus on monkey and bird deterrents has also led to critical comments on social media. Sindhu, a double Olympic medallist, responded directly to that discussion in a post on X.
Sindhu says local challenges are part of major events
“100%. I genuinely don’t understand the outrage,” Sindhu wrote. “We all love Wimbledon, and they’ve had Rufus the hawk keeping pigeons away for years. Every major sporting event has its own local challenges.”
Sindhu described the monkey deterrent plan as only one part of the work being carried out for the championships. “This is just one additional measure on top of the countless measures already being taken. Somehow that becomes the talking point,” she added.
Her message placed the attention on the wider task of delivering the event rather than on one unusual aspect of venue operations. With the championships returning to India after a long absence, the arrangements at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium will be closely watched when play begins.
Sindhu also expressed confidence in the host city’s preparations and the experience awaiting competitors and visitors. “Can’t wait for the world to experience Indian hospitality,” she wrote. “I’m 100% sure we’re going to deliver a world-class World Championships.”
The World Badminton Championships will therefore arrive in New Delhi with both the sporting programme and the venue’s preparations in focus. The bird nets, deterrent gels and trained monkey whisperers are intended to ensure that the competition proceeds without a repeat of the disruptions seen during the India Open.
