Strong security for badminton worlds in India; England pulls out, citing safety concerns

Badminton worlds begin under tight security

HYDERABAD, India —Tight security marked the start of the World Badminton Championship on Monday, with more than 1,000 police officers deployed to protect teams a day after England pulled out because of safety concerns.

Every person entering the stadium in southern India passed through metal detectors and was frisked by police. The stadium floor was restricted to accredited team members, coaches and tournament supervisors.

Uniformed police traveled on team buses from the hotel to the venue, with organizers intent on making security more visible for badminton’s showpiece event.

Thomas Lund, chief operating officer of the Badminton World Federation, said no other team “expressed any reservation” about security.

“The players are enjoying the championships and the focus is back on badminton,” he added. “England’s decision to withdraw was an overreaction. Everything here’s fine.”

China’s Lin Dan, looking to become the first player to win three successive titles, played his first match Monday. It was the first time he played in India.

“I don’t see the security as a problem,” Lin said.

China coach Li Yong Bo was pleased with arrangements the past three days.

“Of course, we’re concerned about our security, but have seen that India’s done a wonderful job,” Li said.

Adrian Christy, chief executive of Badminton England, said Monday his team was not given “appropriate levels of security” for the tournament.

Security concerns over sports events in South Asia have been heightened since the attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan, that killed six police officers and a driver in March.

Seven cricketers, an assistant coach and a match official were injured, and England’s Commonwealth Games champion Nathan Robertson said he and his teammates were disturbed by the threat of a similar attack.

“It wasn’t a safe place for staff or players,” Robertson said at the news conference in Milton Keynes, England. “We were on back roads with no armed guards or anything — just a bus driver. It doesn’t matter to me where it is in the world, we weren’t safe in that situation. It wasn’t a difficult decision in my mind.”

But John Ahlert, security consultant for badminton’s world federation, was satisfied with the way the security agencies had done their job Monday.

“We’ve had no problems … not even water bottles were allowed inside (the stadium),” Ahlert said.

Lund said security consultants had been working with organizers and police for months.

In November, terror attacks in Mumbai left 164 people dead and forced the cancellation in India of a cricket tournament involving provincial teams from five countries.