KEY POINTS
- A massive swarm of honey bees invaded the S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium during a professional match.
- Top-seeded Talia Gibson and Sahaja Yamalapalli were forced to drop their rackets and sprint off the court.
- Officials suspended play for approximately thirty minutes before the match safely resumed.
A bizarre scene unfolded at the S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium during the ITF Bengaluru Open on Thursday. A large swarm of honey bees invaded the arena, forcing a total suspension of play. The disruption occurred during a round of 16 match in the W100 ITF tournament. Australian top seed Talia Gibson was facing India’s Sahaja Yamalapalli when the insects descended.
The incident began in the first set as the two players were engaged in a competitive rally. An alert official first spotted the approaching swarm and immediately notified the chair umpire. Within seconds, a thick cloud of bees filled the air over the court. Both Gibson and Yamalapalli abandoned their rackets and ran toward the locker rooms for protection.
The sudden exodus was not limited to the athletes on the court. Ball boys, line judges, and the chair umpire also fled the playing area to find cover. Spectators in the stands ducked behind seats as the bees moved through the stadium. For several minutes, the court remained entirely empty as thousands of bees swirled above the baseline.
The stadium is located within the lush surroundings of Cubbon Park in Bengaluru. This public park features over eight thousand trees spread across nearly two hundred acres. While the park provides a beautiful backdrop for tennis, it also serves as a natural habitat for local wildlife. Officials noted that such environmental factors sometimes pose unique risks to outdoor sporting events.
Security and grounds staff worked quickly to ensure the area was safe for the players to return. They monitored the swarm’s movement until the bees eventually dispersed into the nearby trees. After a delay of roughly thirty minutes, officials deemed the environment secure for the match to continue. No injuries were reported as a result of the swarm.
Once play resumed, Talia Gibson maintained her focus despite the frightening interruption. She proceeded to dominate the remainder of the contest with a powerful performance. Gibson defeated Yamalapalli with a convincing score of 6-0, 6-0 in less than an hour of total play. The Australian star appeared unbothered by the earlier chaos as she secured her spot in the quarterfinals.
The event highlights the unpredictable nature of hosting professional sports in open-air venues. Last year, a similar incident occurred at a high-profile tournament in the United States. Such occurrences serve as a reminder of the challenges organizers face when stadiums are integrated into natural parks. Bengaluru officials stated they would continue to monitor the local environment to protect athletes.
The ITF Bengaluru Open continues to be a major highlight for tennis in southern India. Despite the brief “buzz” on court, the tournament schedule remains on track for the weekend finals. Local fans expressed relief that the situation was resolved without any stings or serious medical issues.
