Indian badminton star PV Sindhu has reacted to the detailed preparations taking place at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi ahead of the BWF World Championships, which begin on August 17.

Organisers are taking extra precautions after pigeons and a monkey disrupted the India Open earlier this year. The event returns to India after 17 years following extensive upgrades by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

Reacting to the measures on X, PV Sindhu wrote: "You can laugh at the solution, but you have to love the effort. So many people are working behind the scenes to make sure India is ready to welcome the world. Our solutions may be uniquely Indian, but so are our warmth, our spirit and our hospitality. Can’t wait for the badminton world to experience it all in Delhi. See you soon!"

Key Venue Measures and Deterrents:

• Hiring four men to imitate langur calls to frighten and scare monkeys away.
• Sealing vents, replacing wooden doors with double-door entrances, and installing an automatic outer door.
• Applying non-toxic gel around stadium ducting to deter birds and insects.
• Placing sound machines inside the venue that produce noises similar to predatory birds.
• Partnering with the MCD to manage stray dogs and campus wildlife.

Zafar, one of the men hired for langur vocalizations, stated that monkeys flee because they fear larger langurs, noting that his team previously worked at South Block, North Block, and Gurgaon.

SAI Executive Director Ambar Pratap Singh confirmed that the double doors and automatic closing systems prevent monkeys from entering the arena, adding that officials are coordinating with the MCD to transfer stray dogs to shelters.