Indonesian men's doubles player Nikolaus Joaquin said he was curious about the presence of wild monkeys at the 2026 World Championships arena in New Delhi, India. The potential disruption from rhesus monkeys is not a new issue at the venue, as the animals roamed around the arena when the India Open 2026 was held in January.
The event organisers deployed langur monkey callers in the competition area to address this problem. The issue has become a talking point among Indonesian badminton athletes.
Joaquin's doubles partner Raymond Indra stressed that the disturbance would not break their focus during competition. "Once we start playing, we should focus only on the game; no matter who shouts, we won't hear it," Raymond said.
Muhammad Shohibul Fikri, champion of the China and Japan Opens 2026, said athletes must adapt quickly because teams from other countries also face the same conditions. "Look at the positive side, don't get distracted; who knows, our fortune might be there," he said.
Women's doubles players Rachel Allessya Rose and Febi Setianingrum are focused on motivation and improving the details of their game communication ahead of their debut. The 2026 BWF World Championships is scheduled to take place at the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi from 17-23 August.