PV Sindhu praises 'monkey whisperer' Zafar as Delhi finalises BWF World Championships preparations

PV Sindhu on Monday praised the team that includes Zafar, a self-described ‘monkey whisperer’ employed at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi, as part of final preparations for the BWF World Championships. Her remarks followed a media tour in which organisers introduced Zafar and other measures being used at the venue.

Organisers said Zafar’s ability was an inherited craft passed down through his family rather than learned formally, and it was showcased to reporters during the stadium walkthrough. The two-time Olympic medallist offered public support: "You can laugh at the solution, but you have to love the effort," Sindhu said. "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."

Zafar is listed by organisers as part of a joint BAI and SAI plan intended to keep the championships free of intruders; he imitates a langur’s call to chase monkeys away from the venue. He said he takes pride in the work, which has enabled him to put his son in school, the boy now in Class II, though he does not necessarily want the same career for the next generation.

The need for unconventional measures followed problems at the India Open earlier this year: bird droppings on court halted a couple of matches, shuttlers complained of unhygienic training conditions, Delhi's air quality worsened during the week and a monkey was seen in the stands. The criticism that followed was pointed enough that organisers moved beyond hoping the issues would pass.

Venue modifications include sealing vents that previously allowed pigeons in and replacing wooden doors with a double-door entry system. Organisers also adopted a non-toxic gel, borrowed from a Railway Ministry method for protecting overhead wires, to line the stadium’s ceiling and vents; that gel was tested and approved before being rolled out across the venue.

Further steps include 10 US-patented machines flown in to emit calls of predatory birds across different frequencies for after-hours checks, and a campus-wide upgrade to facilities: 80 toilets have been replaced, 57 of them inside the indoor stadium itself. The stadium now has 16 entrances across two floors fitted with glass doors and automatic double-entry systems, and lighting specialists from Indonesia have been tuning the overhead rig to the standard required for the World Championships.

Organisers say roughly Rs 20 crore has been spent on the range of upgrades, "from door hinges to Zafar's retainer." With the World Championships now just a week away, organisers and staff will assess whether those layered precautions and equipment hold up once the stadium is full and the tournament begins.