World No. 3 badminton player Anders Antonsen has pulled out of the ongoing India Open, citing “extreme” air pollution in Delhi, and has been fined USD 5,000 by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for his withdrawal. The four-time World Championships medalist announced his decision on Wednesday.
In an Instagram post, Antonsen explained that this is the third straight year he has skipped the India Open, saying the current pollution levels make Delhi unsuitable for hosting a badminton tournament. He expressed hope that conditions would improve ahead of the World Championships scheduled there in the summer. Following his withdrawal, BWF imposed a USD 5,000 fine.
Under BWF Player Commitment Regulations, top players who miss World Tour Level 1 to 3 events face such fines, along with standard withdrawal penalties. BWF has not commented on Antonsen’s claims.
