Danish Star Antonsen Withdraws from India Open Over Pollution

Danish badminton player Anders Antonsen, ranked third in the world, withdrew from the India Open Super 750 tournament in New Delhi on Wednesday for the third consecutive year, citing extreme air pollution in the Indian capital as the primary reason. The event, held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium from Tuesday through Sunday, serves as a key preparatory stop on the global badminton calendar ahead of the Badminton World Federation's World Championships scheduled for August in the same city.

In a social media post, Antonsen explained his decision, sharing a screenshot from air quality monitoring firm IQAir that showed New Delhi's air quality index at 348, classified as very poor and capable of causing breathing discomfort even for healthy individuals. "Due to the extreme pollution in Delhi at the moment, I don't think it's a place to host a badminton tournament," he wrote, adding that he faced a 5,000 U.S. dollar fine from the Badminton World Federation for pulling out. Antonsen expressed hope that conditions would improve by summer for the championships, noting that prolonged exposure to such pollution levels can lead to respiratory issues and reduced performance for athletes...