Monkey finds its way into attendance at low-key India Open

It could be because it’s we are in a work week, or just a couple of days into the India Open World Tour 750 tournament or paid entry or lack of parking. But the fact that it’s still the work week and that the tournament has been shifted to a much larger venue (the 8000 capacity main stadium at the Indira Gandhi sports complex rather than the smaller KD Jadhav stadium in the same location), sections of the spectator galleries are empty.

One unexpected visitor however did show up on Wednesday morning.

Players and spectators were greeted by the sight of a full grown rhesus macaque roaming the upper stands of the stadium, tickets to which are priced at 400 rupees. While stray dogs are a common sight in the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex these animals have been evicted outside the playing area with barricades preventing their entry. Yet, pigeons and now at least one macaque have managed to evade security.

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The macaque quietly observed matches in the morning session before leaving the indoor hall after a few minutes. The same macaque was also seen in the practice courts of KD Jadhav stadium. It didn’t seem bothered by complaints by some players of ‘dirty conditions’ in the practice courts. He stayed for part of the Korean team’s training session before leaving the hall.

While the macaque is not known to have created trouble in contrast to pigeons and dogs at other venues and competitions in recent months, some players wondered whether it had obtained permission to be in the stadium in the first place.

“Are animals free admission” posted former men’s doubles world champion Kang Min-hyuk in an Instagram story alongside a video of the simian spectator.

Published on Jan 14, 2026