Indian shuttler PV Sindhu slammed the badminton schedule at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya after she had to play three matches within 24 hours.
Sindhu, a 2018 Asian Games silver medallist, exited the tournament after losing her quarterfinal clash against China’s Chen Yufei. She had to play the World No. 4 Chinese shuttler after playing two matches on Saturday. Her Round of 16 clash against local favourite Tomoka Miyazaki, which she won 21-9, 21-13, ended after midnight.
Sindhu had to be back on the court on Sunday afternoon (local time) to play Chen Yufei. Having played 86 minutes across two matches, Sindhu visibly struggled in the contest.
Despite that, she put up a great fight in a match lasting 75 minutes before going down 21-11, 18-21, 10-21.
After losing the match, Sindhu did not hesitate to criticise the schedule while speaking to the media.
“The scheduling was not really well organised is what I feel,” said Sindhu when asked if she had ever played two matches in any major championships earlier.
Earlier, HS Prannoy, the Indian men’s singles medallist from the 2023 Asian Games, called the badminton scheduling at the Asian Games akin to India’s regional – South Zone Championships.
“This year’s Asian Games schedule looks like a South zone championships schedule. Medal ceremony went till 11 pm for the team event and so many players had first match the next day. And now 2 singles matches scheduled on the same day. Just crazy,” Prannoy posted on X.
Sindhu, who was chasing her first gold at the Asian Games, said she got little time to recover before Sunday’s quarterfinal match.
“We literally slept really late and then coming back in the morning (on Sunday), playing two matches in a day. Recovery is the most important priority,” said the two-time Olympic medallist.
“It’s more than mentally preparing, you need to recover. Even though you think you are doing good, physically you might not be able to go there or you might not be able to play,” she added.
Little recovery time meant Sindhu struggled in the long rallies.
“When there are long rallies, definitely yes, recovery. When you had a good thing, you would automatically (go) but your legs don’t move. But I think apart from that it was a good game overall but it’s just that the scheduling should have been a bit better,” she said.
Unnati Hooda, who defeated World No. 6 Putri Kusuma Wardani in the pre-quarterfinals, was also annoyed with the scheduling after she suffered a quarterfinal exit against local favourite Akane Yamaguchi, losing 16-21, 21-14, 17-21 in 66 minutes.
“I will not blame my loss (in quarterfinals) to that but the scheduling could have been managed better,” said Unnati.
Hawk-eye missing from Court 4
Sindhu also raised questions about the infrastructure at the badminton venue, with hawk-eye, crucial equipment used to judge the trajectory of the shuttle, missing from Court 4 and making line calls critical.
“There were no cameras here. That was really sad. I felt that 2-3 shots were on the line. In the quarter-finals in the Asian Games, there should have been a camera is what I feel. Because these are the crucial matches.”
Sindhu said the review system can make a difference, especially when a close line call goes against a player.
“If you get that point, it is good. You have upper hand. You are playing with the cameras, playing with reviews. We can challenge it or if that’s your point, you have a one point advantage. Sometimes an opponent is not able to move and the shuttle falls there and the line judge gives out. And you challenge, you get a point. So it’s an advantage in a way. In the second game, I felt 2-3 shots were clear. But the line judge, you can’t do anything about it,” she said.