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Stephy Zhang

Badminton officials in India were forced to bring in monkey whisperers ahead of an international tournament as the country strives to boost its credibility before hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games and bidding for the 2036 Olympics.
The unusual measure was introduced after monkeys invaded the stands during the India Open earlier this year at the same stadium in New Delhi, leaving the Badminton Association of India (BAI) red-faced. The event was also disrupted by pigeons leaving droppings on the court.
The ⁠small group of men tasked with keeping the monkeys at bay have an unusual skill: they can mimic the calls of langur monkeys, which scare off Rhesus monkeys. The langur, a ‌bigger primate with a black face, is a potent antidote to the problem, and they are routinely deployed in offices in the capital.
Zafar, one of the mimics, showed his skill during a media tour.
“Monkeys are absolutely terrified of langurs, which is why mimicking is so effective,” he said. “I have served in several government offices, and the idea is not to harm the monkeys, but just to make sure they won’t come.”
Staff at the venue have also resorted to coating roof pipes with a non-toxic gel commonly used on railway lines to stop pigeons from nesting.

3 men will have a unique job at the BWF World Championship starting next week in Delhi.
Imitate langur calls at the Indira Gandhi Stadium to keep away rhesus macaques (who dread langurs) from the venue.
Decision made after a monkey gatecrashed the India Open earlier this year. pic.twitter.com/4IGyvQhyQD
— jonathan selvaraj (@jon_selvaraj) August 10, 2026

India’s two-time Olympic medallist and former world champion PV Sindhu hailed the unconventional monkey-scaring tactics as a “uniquely Indian” effort to tackle local logistical hurdles.
“You can laugh at the solution, but you have to love the effort,” Sindhu wrote on X.
“So many people are working behind the scenes to make sure India is ready to welcome the world. Our solutions may be uniquely Indian, but so are our warmth, our spirit and our hospitality,” she added.
Sanjay Mishra, secretary general of the BAI, said they had resolved the issues encountered during the India Open.
“The sports ministry did a lot to improve the facility and the BWF is 100 per cent happy with the arrangements here,” he said.
This was also not the first time Indian organisers had resorted to unorthodox methods to try to fix problems during high-profile sport events.

At the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati in 2020, ground staff raised eyebrows during an international cricket match, the first T20I between India and Sri Lanka, when water leaked through pitch covers.
Rather than using specialised equipment, staff were filmed using household steam irons and hairdryers in an unsuccessful attempt to dry the damp pitch, causing the match to be abandoned.
The seven-day Badminton World Federation (BWF) showpiece, which begins on Monday at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, is being viewed as a critical test of India’s operational readiness for the 2030 Games in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, which the country views as a stepping stone for its 2036 Olympic bid.

But, International Olympic Committee officials reportedly issued a “wake-up call” to Indian organisers during summer meetings in Lausanne.
They cited concerns over governance issues at the Indian Olympic Association, high doping rates with 260 positive cases logged last year and mediocre athletic performances, such as finishing 71st in the Paris Olympics medal standings.
Ahead of the 2030 Games, preparations centre on the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave as the primary venue hub, with the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket venue, slated to host the opening and closing ceremonies.
Plans also include new indoor arenas, athlete villages and major expansions to the city’s metro network, roads and airport.
Organisers are reported to be targeting an expanded sporting programme for the 2030 centenary edition, pushing for the inclusion of disciplines such as cricket, hockey, and indigenous games like kabaddi.


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No monkey business: Indian badminton organisers deploy men to mimic primates at stadium

Monkey whisperers will be in attendance at the coming BWF World Championships at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, India. Photo: Reuters

Monkeys invaded the stands during the India Open earlier this year in New Delhi. Photo: handout

PV Sindhu hailed the unconventional monkey-scaring tactics as “uniquely Indian”. Photo: AFP

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Country is striving to boost credibility before hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and bidding for the 2036 Olympics


Country is striving to boost credibility before hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and bidding for the 2036 Olympics.


No monkey business: Indian badminton organisers deploy men to mimic primates at stadium

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Country is striving to boost credibility before hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and bidding for the 2036 Olympics

Country is striving to boost credibility before hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and bidding for the 2036 Olympics