Ashmita Chaliha criticizes conditions at Indonesia Masters Super 100: 'Imagine if this tournament was held in India'

Ashmita Chaliha, India's top women's singles badminton player at the Indonesia Masters Super 100, has criticized the playing conditions at the tournament. She stated that the hazy, smog-like atmosphere in the venue is unacceptable and questioned the inconsistency of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in monitoring venue quality. Chaliha, 26, is having a memorable season, reaching the quarterfinals of the Super 100 event in Indonesia. She defeated Pornpicha Choeikeewong (Thailand) 21-17, 23-21 in the Round of 32, then overcame Goh Jin Wei (Malaysia) 10-21, 21-10, 21-17 in the Round of 16. Despite winning, she was dissatisfied with the conditions. "The conditions here are really bad. The court is hazy, like there is smog. I can't breathe comfortably when playing. Imagine if this tournament was held in India, there would be so much criticism," Chaliha told media. She emphasized the unfairness in how BWF handles tournaments in India compared to other countries. Previously, the India Open (Super 750) faced heavy criticism over air quality, hygiene, and temperature. Danish player Anders Antonsen withdrew from the 2026 edition and accepted a fine due to pollution concerns. His compatriot Mia Blichfeldt also publicly complained about hygiene conditions in India. However, Chaliha argued that when similar issues occur in Indonesia, BWF remains silent. "Why is it that when India hosts a tournament, everyone criticizes, but when Indonesia has the same problem, no one says anything? This is unfair," she said. Chaliha also praised the Badminton Association of India (BAI) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for successfully hosting the 2026 World Championships in New Delhi – the first time India hosted the prestigious event in 17 years. She stated that Indian organizers did an excellent job, highlighting the inadequacies in Indonesia. The Indonesia Masters Super 100 is the lowest tier of the BWF World Tour, typically attracting players ranked 50 to 150 in the world. As the top seed, Chaliha was expected to go deep, but she believes poor conditions can affect players' health and performance. Analysis from experts shows that Chaliha's narrow win over Choeikeewong (21-17, 23-21) and the volatile three-set match against Goh Jin Wei (10-21, 21-10, 21-17) indicate she has not yet dominated at this level. However, her ability to recover from a heavy first-set loss (10-21) and win the match demonstrates resilience and adaptability. Air quality issues in badminton tournaments are not new. In Southeast Asia, haze from forest fires often affects outdoor events, but indoor venues are also vulnerable if filtration systems are poor. BWF currently has no specific regulations on minimum air quality thresholds for venues, despite repeated calls from players. At 26, Chaliha is in her prime. She needs to accumulate points to improve her ranking, but competing in substandard conditions could affect her long-term plans. Additionally, competition in Indian women's singles is intensifying as PV Sindhu remains the top player, while younger players like Malvika Bansod and Aakarshi Kashyap are also striving to rise. This incident raises questions about BWF's responsibility to ensure consistent playing conditions across all tournaments, regardless of tier. Without improvement, the risk of players refusing to attend Super 100 events may increase, affecting the system's development. Currently, BWF has not issued an official response to Chaliha's criticism. However, the public is awaiting action from the federation to address the issue and avoid setting a bad precedent for similar tournaments. This article is based on in-depth analysis from reliable sources, including match data and player statements. This is a systemic issue that requires attention from the entire badminton community.