Antonsen’s statement comes a day after compatriot Mia Blichfeldt raised concerns over player health and training conditions at the same event, adding fresh weight to growing unease among players in New Delhi.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, the world No.3 explained his absence from the Super 750 event, writing that “due to the extreme pollution in Delhi at the moment, I don’t think it’s a place to host a badminton tournament.”
Antonsen also revealed that his withdrawal has once again attracted a financial penalty from the Badminton World Federation, as the India Open is a mandatory tournament for top-ranked players. “Crossing my fingers that it will be better in the summer when the World Championships take place in Delhi. As a result, BWF once again fined me 5000 USD (4,50,928 INR),” he wrote while sharing a screenshot of Delhi’s Air Quality Index at 348, classified as hazardous.
Antonsen, who withdrew from the India Open on January 4 ahead of the season-opening Malaysia Open, said he had to make the call straight away. He later went on to reach the semi-finals in Malaysia, underlining that his decision was driven by health concerns rather than form or scheduling.
The India Open is being held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium this year, a shift from the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall used in previous editions. The move is part of the preparations for the BWF World Championships, scheduled to be held in Delhi later this year, with organisers viewing the Super 750 as a test event.
Antonsen’s comments reinforce India Open concerns
Antonsen’s concerns follow closely on the heels of Mia Blichfeldt’s public criticism of conditions surrounding the tournament. While the women’s singles player was clear she was satisfied with the main competition courts at IGI Stadium, she repeatedly flagged what she described as “unhealthy” surroundings in training and warm-up areas, particularly the cold, dusty environment and the presence of birds at auxiliary venues.
Blichfeldt said such conditions made it difficult for players to warm up properly and increased the risk of illness or injury.
Together, Antonsen’s withdrawal and Blichfeldt’s remarks have turned the spotlight on off-court factors that elite players believe directly affect performance and well-being.
With the World Championships looming, the concerns raised by two of the leading shuttlers in the sport underline the growing expectation that hosting a global tournament means meeting not just technical standards but environmental ones too.