Asian Games Badminton Schedule Draws Criticism Over Midnight Matches
· Sports · India Today, Times of India
The scheduling of badminton matches at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, has drawn heavy criticism from players and fans over grueling timetables and player fatigue. Indian shuttler PV Sindhu played her third-round match against Japan's Tomoka Miyazaki starting at 12:07 am on Sunday morning. Indian player HS Prannoy lashed out at the tournament organization, calling it mediocre and citing inadequate recovery time, late returns to hotels, and a lack of proper meal access. Prannoy highlighted that players finishing team events late at night faced severe logistical hurdles, with some athletes having early matches the following morning. The absence of a traditional Games Village further compounded logistical difficulties for competitors.
Why it matters
The scheduling controversy highlights growing welfare concerns for elite athletes competing in packed multi-sport international calendars.
Read the original report — India Today
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