The Asian Games 2026 in Japan have gotten off to a chaotic start. After long wait at the airport to get credentials validated and transport arrangement left athletes without food and accommodation for as long as 14 hours, in a fresh case of mismanagement, Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak and her coach Ashok Mishra were reportedly allotted the same room on the Costa Serena cruise ship where nearly 4,000 athletes are set to be housed.
Irked by the arrangement, Pranati and Ashok approached the organisers for a resolution but were unable to get any assistance for hours. Following an intervention from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), alternative arrangements were made.
However, more pain was in store for coach Ashok who had to wait for another 45
minutes before the keys to his room were made available. As per reports, due to a clerical error his name was misspelled in the system records and rectifying it caused further delay.
It was only after 2 am that Ashok could finally enter his room.
“Yes, there was a mix-up during the accommodation. It was resolved around 2:00 am,” Pranati was quoted as saying by NDTV.
Meanwhile, the customary flag hoisting ceremony for the Asian Games that involved India, Yemen, North Korea, Palestine and Timor-Leste was delayed and then halted for over an hour earlier on Friday.
The ceremony began after a 20-minute delay and then stopped midway without any explanation.
“We are sorry for the delay. There is some trouble with a team. We will try to restore in another 15 minutes,” read a statement from the local organisers.
The disruption, according to news agency PTI, lasted for over an hour with the organisers blaming it on lack of communication without getting into the specifics.
“The communication between the Olympic Council of Asia Executive Board and Organising Committee was not well, that’s why this happened,” stated another statement that came after the ceremony.
While officially, the 20th Asiad will get underway from September 19 when the opening ceremony will be held, a few events are already underway including football, basketball, cricket, soft tennis, teqball among others.
