This comes amid few slamming the organisers of the India Open tournament for pollution and unhealthy playing conditions.
This is the third consecutive year that the Danish player has not taken part in the tournament in the national capital, having enough reasons to do so. On Wednesday, Antonsen shared a story on Instagram where he said that Delhi’s extreme pollutions is a big reason behind his unavailability for the tournament.
The three-time world champions also added that the world badminton body has already imposed a fine of USD 5000 on him for withdrawing from the event. In the story, he further said that he does not considered Delhi a place to host a badminton tournament.
Don’t think it’s a place to host a badminton tournament: Antonsen
‘Many are curious as to why I have pulled out of the India Open for the 3rd consecutive year. Due to the extreme pollution in Delhi at the moment, I don’t think it’s a place to host a badminton tournament. Crossing my fingers that it will be better in the Summer when the World Championships will take place in Delhi. As a result, BWF once again has fined me 5000 USD,’ Antonsen shared.
His statement comes a day after a Danish shuttler, Mia Blichfeldt, said the training conditions in Delhi were unhygienic and alleged there was pigeon dropping on the court. She said it after winning her first-round match at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in the national capital. In response, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) quickly rejected the implication that the main competition venue was poorly maintained
Meanwhile, the India Open, a top-tier badminton tournament, is being hosted in the Indira Gandhi International Stadium for the first time. Until last year, a smaller venue, KD Jadhav Indoor Hall (which is less than 500m away from the current venue), hosted the tournament.