Ashmita Chaliha criticizes playing conditions at Indonesia Masters Super 100: 'If held in India, there would be an outcry'

India's top women's singles player at the Indonesia Masters Super 100, Ashmita Chaliha, has criticized the playing conditions at the tournament, particularly the air quality inside the venue. She questioned the inconsistency in how the BWF handles similar issues across different countries. Chaliha, 26, is having a season described as successful, having progressed through qualifying and the Round of 32 at this lowest-tier World Tour event. 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. However, instead of focusing on her results, Chaliha drew attention to what she considers substandard playing conditions. "I don't understand why when a tournament in India has air quality issues, everyone speaks up loudly, but when the same thing happens in Indonesia, no one says anything," Chaliha said in an interview with the Times of India. "The court here is very hazy, like there is smog, and I find it hard to breathe while playing. If this tournament were held in India, there would definitely be a huge outcry." Chaliha's criticism raises a major question about the consistency of the Badminton World Federation's (BWF) oversight of playing conditions. In the past, the India Open (Super 750) has been heavily criticized for air quality, hygiene, and temperature. Danish player Anders Antonsen even withdrew from the 2026 edition due to pollution concerns and accepted a fine. His compatriot Mia Blichfeldt also publicly complained about hygiene conditions in India. However, Chaliha believes BWF is applying a "double standard." She emphasized that Indian players are often criticized when they complain about conditions abroad, but when India itself hosts a tournament, it becomes the focus of intense scrutiny. "I have seen how people treat the India Open. But now, when I play in Indonesia, I see conditions that are even worse. The court is hazy, the air is heavy. I ask myself: why is no one speaking up? Is it because Indonesia is a strong badminton nation, so everything is overlooked?" she said. In reality, the Indonesia Masters Super 100 is the lowest tier of the World Tour, with the lowest prize money and ranking points. Participants are typically ranked between 50 and 150 in the world, and conditions are often not as rigorously inspected as higher-tier events. This creates a quality gap that Chaliha is trying to expose. Beyond the air issue, Chaliha also criticized the lack of transparency in how BWF handles complaints. She believes players are often afraid to speak up for fear of being fined or affecting their chances of participating in future tournaments. "We are not complainers. But when our health is at risk, we need to speak. BWF needs to have a common standard for all tournaments, regardless of tier. A player at a Super 100 deserves to play in good conditions just as much as a player at a Super 1000," she stressed. Notably, just a few weeks earlier, India hosted the 2026 Badminton World Championships in New Delhi – the first time in 17 years. The event received widespread praise from players and BWF officials, including the BWF President. Chaliha also praised the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Badminton Association of India (BAI) for organizing a successful tournament. "I am very proud that India hosted the World Championships. SAI and BAI did a great job. The court was clean, the air was fresh, everything was professional. It shows that India can host major international tournaments to world-class standards," she said. The contrast between the World Championships in India and the Indonesia Masters Super 100 highlights the issue Chaliha is raising. If India can host a world-class event, why can't Indonesia ensure basic conditions for a Super 100? On the competitive side, Chaliha is in decent form. Two consecutive wins at the Indonesia Masters show she is performing as expected of a top seed. However, the tight scorelines (21-17, 23-21 against Choeikeewong and 10-21, 21-10, 21-17 against Goh Jin Wei) indicate she is not yet dominating at this level. Particularly, the 10-21 first-set loss to Goh – a former world junior champion with a history of heart issues – suggests Chaliha may struggle against higher-caliber opponents. At 26, Chaliha is entering her competitive prime. She needs to accumulate points to improve her ranking and avoid top seeds in early rounds of major events. Playing Super 100 tournaments is a logical strategy, but if conditions do not improve, it could affect her health and performance. Chaliha's case raises a big question for BWF: Is the organization applying a double standard when monitoring tournaments in different countries? And do players have enough voice to demand a safe and fair playing environment? As world badminton grows with the participation of emerging nations, ensuring consistent quality across tournaments is essential. If not, criticisms like Chaliha's may not remain isolated but could become a wave of protest from the player community. Currently, BWF has not officially responded to Chaliha's remarks. However, with the growing influence of players on social media, pressure on BWF to act is increasing. Ashmita Chaliha has chosen to speak up, not only for herself but for all players competing at lower-tier tournaments – those often forgotten in the debate over tournament quality. Will her voice bring change? The answer lies with BWF.