Badminton-India's World Championships Organisers Hire Monkey Whisperers
Three trained mimics will imitate langur calls to scare away rhesus macaques after monkeys disrupted the India Open, organisers said.
- To prevent monkey intrusions during next week's BWF World Championships in New Delhi, organizers hired three professional mimics to imitate langur calls and "scare the macaques away" at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
- Earlier this year, the India Open faced international criticism after macaques disrupted matches and pigeon droppings littered the courts, prompting a thorough stadium makeover as the championships return to India after 17 years.
- Upgrades at the stadium complex include refurbishing 2,500 seats, renovating 57 of the 66 toilets, and installing double doors at 16 inner hall entrances to prevent avian intruders.
- Monkey whisperer Zafar, who performs this "generational job," said his calls effectively deter animals; Olympic medallist PV Sindhu endorsed the measure, calling it "uniquely Indian" and praising the effort.
- A team from Indonesia plans to inspect the stadium's lighting over the next few days to ensure tournament standards ahead of the championships.
24 Articles
24 Articles
Preparations for the Badminton World Championships in New Delhi are in their final stages. To ensure a successful tournament, organizers have paid special attention to the courts, spectator galleries, and stadium arrangements. However, this time around, they face a challenge that is perhaps not expected from an international sports event.
From Pigeons to Primates: The Complete Transformation Of IGI Stadium For The BWF World Championships
The Badminton Association of India and the Sports Authority of India had to drastically overhaul the infrastructure of the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium following severe criticism over hygiene and match disruptions caused by pests during the India Open
"You Can Laugh, But You Have To Love": PV Sindhu Approves As World Championships See Langur Mimics
The organisers of the upcoming BWF World Championships in India have taken extensive steps to upgrade the venue, the Indira Gandhi Stadium, to avoid the embarrassment that rocked the India Open earlier this year
Organisers Deploy 'Langur Mimics' to Fend Off Monkey Menace at BWF World Badminton Championships 2026 in New Delhi | 🏆 LatestLY
New Delhi is employing an unconventional strategy to safeguard the upcoming BWF World Championships 2026: hiring three men to mimic langur calls. This initiative comes after a monkey was spotted at the India Open earlier this year at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the same venue for the championship running from August 17-23, 2026. 🏆 Organisers Deploy 'Langur Mimics' to Fend Off Monkey Menace at BWF World Badminton Championships 2026 in New …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
