After a seventeen-year hiatus, the highly anticipated Badminton World Championships are set to return to India, commencing this Monday at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. This grand sporting event holds particular significance for the host nation, with Indian badminton star PV Sindhu expressing her enthusiasm and support for the extensive preparations undertaken by the organizers.
The choice of venue, while familiar, presented a unique challenge during the India Open in January, when a monkey made an unexpected appearance in the stands, and bird droppings along with nest debris caused disruptions to play. To proactively address these wildlife concerns for the upcoming championships, the organizers have employed an innovative solution: “monkey whisperers.” These specialized personnel are tasked with deterring rhesus macaques by skillfully imitating the calls of their larger, more dominant langur counterparts, thereby keeping the primates away from the stadium.
PV Sindhu, a celebrated Olympic silver and bronze medallist, openly commended these unusual yet effective measures. “I really appreciate their effort for doing it,” Sindhu remarked to reporters when questioned about the team of “monkey wallahs”. The 31-year-old athlete, who has already had practice sessions at the venue, conveyed her satisfaction with the overall arrangements. “Everything is comfortable and everything is good, from the washrooms to the people out here. They have put in all the efforts to make this happen.” The 2019 world champion confidently stated that the meticulous planning and execution by the organizers guarantee that “this will be one of the greatest world championships.” She added, with palpable national pride, “Being an Indian I can proudly say that we are fortunate and happy to play here at the home ground.”
Sindhu arrives at the tournament in exceptional form, having recently triumphed at the Japan Open last month. This victory marked a significant comeback, ending a two-year drought for a major title. “Definitely, after winning the Japan Open that gave me a lot of boost and lot of confidence,” Sindhu affirmed, her excitement for the upcoming event evident. “Looking forward for the world championships to start and since it’s happening in India, really excited.” As a long-standing standard-bearer for Indian badminton, Sindhu assured that her dedication and passion for the sport remain undiminished, even after more than a decade of competing at the highest level. “The hunger towards the game hasn’t changed. I know it is in me and I can still do it,” she declared. Sindhu, seeded ninth in the tournament, is slated to face Ireland’s Sophia Noble in her opening round match.
