The Malawati Stadium which is the venue of the Malaysia Open Super Series Premier Badminton championships and the organisers have come under heavy fire from players.

Players like two-time Olympic gold medalist, Lin Dan, world women’s doubles champions Tang Yuanting/Yu Yang and one half of former world champions Fu Haifeng, all from China, have questioned the facilities provided at the stadium, especially the half-sized warm-up court ( photo ).

Apart from water leaking on the court from an air conditioning system, players questioned the lack of space for warm-up.

The match between Tang Yuanting-Yu Yang and Malaysian pair Goh Yea Ching/Peck Yen Wei, had to be stopped for 15 minutes and later shifted to another court when water started leaking from the roof.

The Chinese pair were unhappy with the conditions despite winning the match 21-10, 21-8.

Lin Dan was furious with the organisers for providing only half the size of a full badminton court for warm up which limits the movement of players during warm-up before the match.

“Normally, the warm-up court is full size, but here it is a small court... only half court. Because of that, it is hard to make more movement during the warm-up time,” said Lin Dan, winner of the men’s singles gold medal in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Lin Dan, who last appeared in the Malaysia Open in 2000, was also unhappy with the drift.

World number four men’s doubles pair Fu Haifeng/Zhang Nan were also unhappy with the size of the warm up court.

“We never seen such a small court for warming-up. And it is hard for us, especially doubles players, when our movement is limited before the actual match,” said Haifeng.

Haifeng was also unhappy with the drift inside the stadium, claiming it was too strong and would disrupt their match strategy.

Despite the shortfalls, Lin Dan beat local hopeful Chong Yee Han 21-10, 21-15, while Haifeng/Zhang Nan defeated Hendra Aprida Gunawan/Markis Kido from Indonesia 21-17, 21-17.

- Bernama