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

PV Sindhu (ANI Photo)

PV Sindhu has criticised the badminton schedule at the Asian Games after playing three singles matches in less than 24 hours.The Indian shuttler played twice on Saturday, with her third-round match finishing after midnight.

She was back on court on Sunday afternoon for her quarterfinal against China's Chen Yufei, which she lost.

"Not really, because the scheduling was not really well organised is what I feel," said Sindhu when asked if she had ever played two matches in any major championships earlier.The two-time Olympic medallist said the short gap between matches left little time for recovery."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."

'You need to recover'

Sindhu said the challenge was not only about preparing mentally for another match. The physical recovery between matches was equally important."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."She said the lack of recovery becomes more visible during long rallies.

"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."Unnati Hooda also expressed her disappointment with the scheduling after players were required to play more than one match in a day."I will not blame my loss (in quarterfinals) to that but the scheduling could have been managed better."

Sindhu questions absence of Hawk-Eye

Sindhu also felt the absence of Hawk-Eye on Court 4 made things difficult during her quarterfinal.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. That was really sad. I felt that 2-3 shots were on the line. In the quarter-finals in the Asian Games, there should have been a camera is what I feel.

Because these are the crucial matches."Sindhu said the review system can make a difference, especially when a close line call goes against a player."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."