India’s BWF World Championships venue uses “langur call” deterrents after earlier monkey incidents

PV Sindhu praised organisers preparing Delhi’s BWF World Championships venue after animals disrupted the India Open earlier this year. The Indira Gandhi Stadium has been upgraded with sealed vents, double doors, anti-pest gel and predator-call machines. Three men trained to imitate langur calls have also been hired to deter monkeys. Sindhu called the efforts uniquely Indian and warmly welcoming.

New Delhi, August 10: Indian badminton star PV Sindhu reacted to the unique preparations being made to keep monkeys away from the venue of the BWF World Championships 2026 in Delhi. Sindhu said that she loved the effort while reacting to a video of the man mimicking langur sounds to keep the monkeys away from the Indira Gandhi Stadium.Three men have been trained to imitate langur calls at the Indira Gandhi Stadium. The idea is to keep rhesus macaques away, as monkeys are known to stay away from langurs.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… https://t.co/ORDFuAkITL— PV Sindhu (@Pvsindhu1) August 10, 2026 Reacting to the bizarre and unusual solution, Sindhu said, "You can laugh at the solution, but you have to love the effort."In a post on X, Sindhu also praised the people working behind the scenes to prepare Delhi for the major badminton event."So many people are working behind the scenes to make sure India is ready to welcome the world," she wrote.3 men will have a unique job at the BWF World Championship starting next week in Delhi. Imitate langur calls at the Indira Gandhi Stadium to keep away rhesus macaques (who dread langurs) from the venue. Decision made after a monkey gatecrashed the India Open earlier this year. pic.twitter.com/4IGyvQhyQD— jonathan selvaraj (@jon_selvaraj) August 10, 2026 Sindhu added that while the solutions may be "uniquely Indian", they also reflect the country's warmth, spirit and hospitality."Can’t wait for the badminton world to experience it all in Delhi. See you soon!" she added.Why Are 'Monkey Whisperers' Being Used?The unusual and important measure comes after a monkey entered the venue during the India Open earlier this year.The incident became one of the talking points of the tournament and led organisers to look at ways to prevent a repeat during the World Championships.The three men will use a mixture of langur-like grunts and hoots to discourage rhesus macaques from coming near the stadium.The BWF World Championships will be held in Delhi from August 17 to 23, with the world's top badminton players taking part.BWF World Championships Get 'Monkey Whisperers': 3 Men To Mimic Langur Calls And Keep Monkeys Away | VIDEOWith the tournament approaching, organisers are working on several aspects of the venue to ensure a smooth event.For Sindhu, the monkey-control plan may be something to laugh about, but she believes the effort behind it deserves appreciation.

New Delhi, August 10: The BWF World Championships 2026 in Delhi will have some unusual helpers this year as three men have been trained to imitate langur calls. Their job will be to keep rhesus macaques away from the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, where the world's top badminton players will compete from August 17 to 23.The bizarre step has been taken after a monkey entered the venue during the India Open earlier this year. Organisers are now taking extra precautions to make sure the problem does not repeat during the World Championships.3 men will have a unique job at the BWF World Championship starting next week in Delhi. Imitate langur calls at the Indira Gandhi Stadium to keep away rhesus macaques (who dread langurs) from the venue. Decision made after a monkey gatecrashed the India Open earlier this year. pic.twitter.com/4IGyvQhyQD— jonathan selvaraj (@jon_selvaraj) August 10, 2026 The three men have been trained to copy the sounds made by langurs, including their grunts and hoots. Rhesus macaques are known to stay away from langurs, so the calls will be used as a way to discourage monkeys from coming near the stadium.Why Are Monkeys A Concern?The monkey incident during the India Open became one of the most unusual moments of the tournament. A monkey was spotted inside the stadium while matches were being played, adding to the problems faced by organisers.The India Open also had another unexpected visitor problem - pigeons.Bird droppings fell onto the badminton court during a match, forcing play to be stopped. The incidents led to concerns about cleanliness, hygiene and animal control at the venue. The Badminton World Federation also acknowledged these issues.The problems were particularly important because the India Open was seen as a major test for the same venue ahead of the World Championships.India Open Badminton: BAI Rejects Allegations Of Poor Conditions At Indira Gandhi Indoor StadiumDelhi Gets Ready For The World ChampionshipsThe 2026 BWF World Championships will be held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi from August 17 to 23. It will be the 30th edition of the tournament and will return to India after 17 years.The venue has undergone several changes after the problems seen during the India Open. Organisers have worked on cleanliness, animal control, air conditioning, lighting and other facilities.Measures to keep birds and animals away from the playing area have also been strengthened. Security and entry arrangements have been improved as part of the preparations.The Badminton Association of India has said that the issues from the India Open have been addressed and that the World Championships will provide a much better experience for players and fans.VIDEO: Indian Open Badminton 2026 Game Halted After Bird's Poop At Indira Gandhi Stadium In DelhiMonkey ControlThe three men with their langur calls will have a simple but important task and that is to make sure that the monkeys stay outside while the world's best badminton players take centre stage inside.With the World Championships only days away, organisers will hope that the biggest headlines from Delhi this time come from the badminton court and not from the stands.