Badminton scheduling shambles at Asian Games: First complaining voices out – from China

Badminton officials are facing criticism from Chinese athletes over the scheduling of matches in the Asian Games. The schedule has resulted in players having to compete on consecutive days and in some cases, within a 12-hour window. This has particularly affected singles players, with the Chinese men's singles shuttlers being eliminated before the quarterfinals.

Chinese women's doubles World No. 1 Tan Ning voiced her concerns about the unfairness of the schedule and even lodged an official complaint. However, the chief referee did not address their concerns, unlike when the Japanese team complained, which led to a change in the time schedule.

The lack of recovery time for players is a major concern, especially for singles players who have to compete in multiple matches. In India, Sindhu and Unnati Hooda played three matches within 26 hours, including two against top-ranked players. The hotel was just two hours away, but the intense schedule took its toll on the players. Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty, who made it to the team semis, also lost early in the competition.

The situation in India raises questions about the fairness and sustainability of the tournament's scheduling. Some teams, like Singapore, smartly avoided participating in the team event to avoid overextending their players. Loh Kean Yew, who replaced Singapore in the team event, quickly eliminated Sen in the third set. Chou Tien Chen, who eliminated Ayush Shetty in the team event, also advanced to the quarterfinals, despite not being a top-ranked player.

On a positive note, Korean singles players managed to buck the trend by arriving rested for the Asian Games. Although they were ranked outside the top 30, their fresh state gave them an edge over their opponents. This highlights the importance of recovery and rest in high-pressure tournaments like the Asian Games.