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PV Sindhu criticized the Asian Games badminton schedule after playing three singles matches in 24 hours, citing insufficient recovery time.
PV Sindhu (AP Photo)
PV Sindhu has criticised the Asian Games badminton schedule after being forced to play three singles matches within 24 hours, saying the cramped programme did not provide enough time for recovery.
The two-time Olympic medallist played her second-round match on Saturday afternoon before taking the court again for her third-round fixture later in the day. That match ended around 1 am local time on Sunday, leaving Sindhu with only a limited recovery window before her quarterfinal against China’s Chen Yufei at around 1:30 pm, which she lost 21-11, 18-21, 10-21, capping a blank for India in badminton.
“Not really, because the scheduling was not really well organised is what I feel,” Sindhu said when asked if she had previously played two matches at a major championship on the same day.
“We literally slept really late and then came back in the morning, playing two matches in a day. Recovery is the most important priority.”
Sindhu said the impact of limited recovery becomes more evident during long rallies, when physical fatigue can affect movement even if a player remains mentally prepared.
“It’s more than mentally preparing; you need to recover. Even though you think you are doing well, physically you might not be able to go there, or you might not be able to play,” she said. “When there are long rallies, definitely yes, recovery. When you had a good thing, you would automatically (go), but your legs don’t move.”
She added that the scheduling needed to be improved despite describing her overall performance against Chen as a good one.
Sindhu also raised concerns about the absence of a review system during her quarterfinal. She played on Court 4 at Ichinomiya Gymnasium Hall, where Hawk-Eye cameras were not available. The technology was installed only on Courts 1 and 2.
“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,” she said.
Sindhu felt a few close line calls could have gone in her favour but acknowledged that players had no option to challenge the decisions. Asked about continuing until the 2030 Asian Games, Sindhu kept her plans open and said her immediate priority was staying injury-free.
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Ask News18PV Sindhu criticised the schedule because she was forced to play three singles matches within a 24-hour period, which did not provide enough time for physical recovery.
Ask News18September 27, 2026, 15:32 IST
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