Badminton Worlds 2026: Delhi hotels swap rice for kanji to host shuttlers
Delhi's hotels are catering to the needs of badminton's World Championships by substituting rice with kanji—a starchy, ginger-infused porridge—to satisfy the East Asian athletes. The focus of the hotels is on providing a smooth experience for over 200 players and support staff arriving between August 17 and 23. Apart from kanji, the diet includes miso soup, tofu preparations, and Asian-flavored meats.
The hotels have also considered minor details like lighting and ice orders, anticipating an increase in bulk ice requests due to recovery protocols. Le Meridien's Vineet Wadhera and his head chef Karan Mehta emphasize the importance of carbohydrates in the athletes' diet. The hotels are also offering traditional Indian dishes like butter chicken, naan, masala dosai, and shalamis to cater to various preferences, including those of European teams.
Despite the high-profile event, the hotels are focused on ensuring that players feel at ease, with quiet check-ins and quick assistance to their rooms.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
