Imagine if this was India: Ashmita Chaliha calls out Indonesia Masters conditions

Ashmita Chaliha posted a video from the Indonesia Masters venue and questioned the apparent haze inside the stadium. Her remarks have renewed attention on how tournament conditions in India and overseas are judged.Ashmita Chaliha questioned conditions at the Indonesia Masters Super 100. (Photo: Instagram)Ashmita Chaliha has questioned the conditions at the Indonesia Masters Super 100 after sharing a video from the tournament venue that appeared to show signs of smog inside the stadium. The Indian shuttler drew a comparison with the intense scrutiny Indian badminton events have faced over air quality and pollution.Chaliha is competing at the Indonesia Masters, where she entered the women's singles draw as the top seed. She shared the video on her Instagram Story, showing what appeared to be hazy conditions inside the stadium.WATCH THE VIDEO:“Imagine if this tournament was held in India. There would've been so many complaints and controversies by now about the air quality/smoke/pollution. BTW,” Chaliha wrote.Chaliha has progressed to the quarter-finals in Indonesia, beating Thailand's Pornpicha Choeikeewong 21-17, 23-21 in the Round of 32 before overcoming Malaysia's Goh Jin Wei 10-21, 21-10, 21-17 in the Round of 16. Her post comes against the backdrop of the controversy surrounding the 2026 India Open in New Delhi.WHY INDIA OPEN 2026 WAS CRITICISEDThe India Open faced criticism earlier this year, particularly over Delhi's winter air quality. Denmark's Anders Antonsen skipped the tournament and accepted a fine, while Mia Blichfeldt also raised concerns over hygiene. Reports of bird droppings around the courts and monkeys at the venue added to the scrutiny, eventually prompting India's Sports Ministry to seek an explanation from the organisers.The Badminton Association of India defended the event, while the BWF acknowledged player feedback but maintained that the venue met the required standards. Despite the controversy, Delhi has retained the India Open, with the next edition scheduled for February 2 to 7, 2027, before the tournament returns to its January window in 2028.DELHI REDEEMS ITSELF AT WORLDSThe Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium got a chance to change the narrative when it hosted the 2026 BWF World Championships in August. The tournament gave Indian organisers an opportunity to showcase the same venue after the criticism that followed the India Open.The August schedule also avoided Delhi's worst winter pollution, while greater attention was given to cleanliness and venue management. The successful World Championships offered a contrasting picture of the venue that had faced intense scrutiny earlier in the year.Chaliha's post has nevertheless reopened the debate over the different standards applied to tournaments in India and elsewhere. Her comments come while she is competing in Indonesia herself, giving the discussion a perspective from a player experiencing the conditions first-hand.On court, Chaliha has already secured her place in the quarter-finals after two victories in Indonesia. The top seed will now look to continue her run as she bids for another strong result on the BWF World Tour.- EndsPublished By: Debodinna ChakrabortyPublished On: Sep 3, 2026 13:14 IST