Indian shuttler calls out BWF: Why does no one scrutinize air quality at Indonesia Super 100?

When Ashmita Chaliha stepped onto the court at the Indonesia Masters Super 100 on Wednesday, she faced more than just opponent Pornpicha Choeikeewong — she faced a hazy, smog-like atmosphere. The Indian top seed won 21-17, 23-21, but the story doesn't end with the scoreline. Afterwards, Chaliha raised a bigger question: why isn't a low-tier Super 100 tournament scrutinized for playing conditions, while India has been criticized mercilessly? This is not the first time air quality has become a problem in badminton. The 2026 India Open — a Super 750 event — faced a wave of fierce criticism over polluted air, cold, and poor hygiene. Danish player Anders Antonsen even withdrew and accepted a fine over health concerns. But when the Indonesia Masters Super 100 — the lowest tier of the BWF World Tour — took place in hazy conditions, no major media outlet raised an alarm. This asymmetry prompted Chaliha to speak out: "Imagine if this tournament was held in India..." she said to the media, implying that if it were India, the world would have condemned it immediately. Chaliha, 26, is in the peak phase of her career. She has just had a memorable season: reaching the quarterfinals here after two straight wins, with a dramatic pre-quarterfinal against Goh Jin Wei — Malaysia's former junior world champion — ending 10-21, 21-10, 21-17. That comeback showed remarkable mental resilience. But more importantly, she used her platform to expose a reality that many lesser-known players dare not voice. This incident lays bare a major paradox within BWF. The world governing body has a clear tournament tier system, from Super 1000 to Super 100, but standards for playing conditions — especially air quality — are not consistent. While major events like the World Championships in New Delhi were so well-organized that Chaliha herself praised them, smaller tournaments are left neglected. This creates a dangerous double standard: the smaller the tournament, the less attention it receives, the worse the conditions, and the less oversight. Data from Chaliha's matches at this tournament shows she is performing at the level expected of a top seed, but the narrow win over Choeikeewong (23-21 in the second game) and losing the first game 10-21 to Goh Jin Wei are notable concerns. If Chaliha wants to break into the world's top 20, she cannot rely solely on points from Super 100 events. She needs more matches at higher levels, where pressure and physical demands are far more grueling. But there is a contrarian view: no one forced Chaliha or any other player to enter the Super 100. It's a place for mid-ranked players to accumulate points, and precisely because of that, conditions often lack the investment seen at bigger events. However, that does not justify neglecting player health. BWF must implement minimum air quality standards for all tournaments, regardless of tier, and establish independent monitoring mechanisms. Otherwise, criticisms like Chaliha's will be just a voice in the wilderness, and the ultimate victims will be the athletes — who have no choice over where they compete if they want to earn a living. The question is not only about BWF's responsibility, but also about global media: why does a serious health issue in India spark outrage, while in Indonesia it is ignored? Is it because Indian players like Chaliha have less voice, or because Indonesia holds a different position in the badminton world? This is not a political question, but one of fairness and safety in sports, where every athlete, regardless of tournament level, deserves to compete in the best possible conditions.