Ace shuttler PV Sindhu expressed her displeasure at the cramped schedule at the Asian Games 2026 on Sunday after the Indian badminton star exited the women’s singles in the quarterfinals in Aichi-Nagoya. The two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu, had to play three singles matches within a span of 24 hours, and stated the schedule “was not really well organised” it didn’t allow the athletes enough recovery time.
was scheduled to play two matches on Saturday, with the second match ending after midnight. The Indian then had to return to the court on Sunday for her quarterfinal match against world no.4 Chen Yufei of China which Sindhu lost 11-21, 21-18, 21-10 .
“Not really, because the scheduling was not really well organised is what I feel,” said when asked if she had ever played two matches in any major championships earlier. “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.”
She played her second round match in the afternoon of Saturday. Her third round match ended after midnight (around 1 AM local time on Sunday). Her quarterfinal match started around 1:30 PM local time on Sunday.
Asked how she prepared herself mentally to play three matches in 24 hours, said, “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.”
“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,” said the experienced shuttler.
Some of the line calls in Sindhu’s quarterfinal match were close ones but she could not do anything as there was no provision of player challenge due to the absence of hawk eye which was installed only at show courts 1 and 2 at the Ichinomiya Gymnasium Hall. Sindhu played on Court 4.
“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 , there should have been a camera is what I feel. Because these are the crucial matches.”
Asked the line calls which she thought went against her unsettled her, Sindhu said, “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.”
Sindhu kept it open when asked indirectly if she will continue playing in the next Asian Games. “If I have it in me, definitely yes. I just need to stay injury-free. It’s just, what’s next? That’s very important. Step-by-step is important. “Yeah, definitely one year at a time.
“It’s important that I just focus on what’s next. Because you’re not 20 anymore, right? You need to take care of your body, take care of everything. So it’s very important. We’ll have to pick and choose tournaments.
“What to do, what to play and what not to play. Because your body, taking care of your body also is important,” said Sindhu who is expected to compete in the European circuit later in the year.
Asked what keeps her motivating, she said, “I have it in me the passion and the love towards sport. That keeps me going irrespective of how many medals I’ve got. I think that’s important. At the end of the day, you need to love playing sport. That passion towards the sport keeps you going. And that’s the only thing. If you don’t have that passion, if you don’t feel like going, you can’t. So I still know that I have it in me,” she concluded.
