Taiwan’s Lin Chun-yi wins India Open badminton event marred by ‘dirty’ conditions
South Korea’s world No 1 An Se-young wins women’s title but players slam ‘unhygienic’ playing conditions, ‘extreme’ air pollution
Taiwan’s Lin Chun-yi won the India Open badminton men’s singles title on Sunday, after playing conditions – which included bird droppings on court and a monkey in the stands – drew criticism from players.
Lin, 26, beat third seed Jonatan Christie of Indonesia 21-10, 21-18 in 38 minutes to clinch the men’s crown at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
In the women’s singles final, world No 1 An Se-young of South Korea beat mainland China’s world No 2 Wang Zhiyi 21-13, 21-11 to extend her domination on the court.
An has won six consecutive titles since the Denmark Open in October last year, compiling a 30-match winning streak.
However, the sheen was taken off the on-court action after players, including Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt, slammed the “dirty and unhygienic” playing conditions.
“Everyone is stressed and frustrated by the conditions we are being met with at a World Tour Super 750 event,” she said in a social media post on Friday.