Asian Games 2026: Indian athletes land in Japan to a forgettable welcome
Indian athletes arriving in Japan for the 2026 Asian Games faced significant logistical failures, including missing accommodation, lost equipment, and incorrect accreditation. The issues have caused frustration among the Indian contingent and the national sports federations.
Why it matters
The incident highlights major organizational lapses at a high-profile international sporting event, impacting athlete performance and international relations.
Japan’s reputation for organisational efficiency lay in tatters as the rowing and shooting contingent faced unexpected ordeals upon arrival. A majority of the rowing squad were left stranded without accommodation, some of their names actually missing from the accreditation system.“Only three of the 22 men’s athletes have accommodation against their names. And the names of three of the five women rowers (Poonam, Aleena Anto and Anshika Bharati) are not registered with the hosts even though they all have valid accreditation,” said a Rowing Federation of India (RFI) official.The rowers’ nightmare had actually begun even before they boarded their flight. One of the groups that left Mumbai on Tuesday night was told by Cathay Pacific that they would not be allowed to check in their oars. Later, the oars were flown to Delhi.
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