Three matches in 24 hours! PV Sindhu criticises badminton schedule at Asian Games

PV Sindhu expressed her dissatisfaction with the badminton schedule at the Asian Games after participating in three singles matches within a 24-hour period at the Ichinomiya Gymnasium Hall. On Saturday, she played twice, with her third-round match extending past midnight. The next day, she faced China's Chen Yufei in the quarterfinals, which she lost. Sindhu stated, "Not really, because the scheduling was not really well organised," highlighting the lack of organization in the schedule.

The Indian shuttler lamented the insufficient time for recovery between matches, emphasizing that physical recovery is as important as mental preparation. Sindhu explained, "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 further noted that long rallies exacerbate the issue of recovery, stating, "When there are long rallies, definitely yes, recovery."

Sindhu also expressed disappointment regarding the absence of Hawk-Eye technology on Court 4, which hindered her ability to challenge certain line calls during her quarterfinal match against Chen. She remarked, "Some line calls were close, but there was no player challenge available because Hawk-Eye had been installed only on show courts 1 and 2 at the Ichinomiya Gymnasium Hall.

There were no cameras here." Sindhu felt that the review system could have been beneficial, particularly in close line calls, adding, "In the quarter-finals in the Asian Games, there should have been a camera is what I feel. Because these are the crucial matches."

She concluded by advocating for a more efficient scheduling system, stating, "The scheduling could have been managed better."