BWF World Championships: Monkey whisperers to anti-pigeon gel, Delhi leaves nothing to chance | Badminton News
NEW DELHI: As rain lashed the National Capital Region on Monday afternoon, the message at the Indira Gandhi (IG) indoor stadium in the heart of the city was clear: nothing is to be left to chance now. It is an unusual sight before a major international event: organisers taking media on a guided tour to showcase preparedness. But with badminton’s global elite arriving from Aug 17 to 23, the sports ministry, Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Badminton Association of India (BAI) are determined that the tournament avoids the irritants that had dogged Jan’s India Open at the same venue — pigeon droppings on to the court, stray dogs and simian presence in the stands and stadium complex.For India, seeking preferred-destination status for global sporting events, the success of a World Championships returning after 17 years carries considerable weight. Among those bestowed with the responsibility to keep things smooth and running is Jabbar — Delhi’s “monkey whisperer” — part of a fourman team that uses langur calls to keep the primates away.From pigeons to monkeys, dogs to leaky roofs, the organisers have tried to plug every gap. The final test, however, begins when the world arrives here. The lessons from the India Open have prompted a war-footing response.Pigeons twice interrupted the HS Prannoy-Loh Kean Yew match, while monkey intrusion, stray dogs, dust and hygiene concerns added to the embarrassment that was called out internationally. The response has been sweeping. Stadium vents have been sealed and heavy-duty bird netting installed beneath the roof, while non-toxic USsourced gel and machines mimicking predatory bird calls add further protection against pigeons and insects.Wooden doors have been replaced with double-door and automaticclosing systems, making monkey entry harder.“We started planning from Feb itself on how we can improve the overall situation of this stadium,” SAI executive director Ambar Pratap Singh said on Monday.The IG complex has been overhauled: roof leakages and e x p a n s i o n joints have been treated, buildings painted, seats replaced or polished, drainage improved and a new false ceiling installed. Glarefree LED lighting and court drift have also been addressed with BWF specialists.Yet one loophole remained visible during Monday’s tour. Stray dogs could still be spotted inside the complex Organisers said they remain in constant touch with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, with dogcatching teams being arranged.
