{
  "id": 970376,
  "title": "How periods became a live issue at the Delhi World Championships",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/how-periods-became-a-live-issue-at-the-delhi-world-championships",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-15T06:00:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/badminton/periods-women-shuttlers-issue-bwf-delhi-world-championships-10834418/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The World Championships in Delhi have become a pivotal moment for discussing the issue of periods in women's badminton. Mia Blichfeldt, a vocal critic from India, has formed the Women's Badminton Collective (WBC) to address the concerns of women players. One of their first achievements was convincing Chinese star Huang Dong Ping, a three-time World Championship medallist, to speak about the impact of menstrual cycles on athletes. Dong Ping highlighted the difficulties faced during breaks, especially in mixed doubles, where players must balance competing with their physiological needs. The BWF is considering changes to accommodate this reality, but the Delhi organisers have already taken a step by providing sanitary napkins in women's restrooms. Despite ongoing debates, the athletes and organisers are working together to make badminton more women-friendly, recognizing that it's not just about physical strength and resilience, but also about accepting and addressing the biological realities of women athletes.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Women's Badminton Collective formed to address menstrual issues.",
    "Chinese star Huang Dong Ping speaks about menstrual impact.",
    "BWF considers accommodations, Delhi provides sanitary napkins."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The push for change by players like Mia Blichfeldt and Huang Dong Ping signals a shift towards making women's badminton more inclusive and supportive of female athletes' biological needs.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Why heat and wind are closely monitored by Badminton World Championships organisers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/why-heat-and-wind-are-closely-monitored-by-badminton-world",
        "published": "2026-08-15T06:16:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Kai Wun rues early Malaysian showdown at World Championships",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/kai-wun-rues-early-malaysian-showdown-at-world-championships",
        "published": "2026-08-15T06:21:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}