Asian Games 2026: Indian athletes land in Japan to a forgettable welcome

Japan’s reputation for organisational efficiency lay in tatters as the rowing and shooting contingent faced unexpected ordeals upon arrival. A majority of the rowing squad were left stranded without accommodation, some of their names actually missing from the accreditation system.“Only three of the 22 men’s athletes have accommodation against their names. And the names of three of the five women rowers (Poonam, Aleena Anto and Anshika Bharati) are not registered with the hosts even though they all have valid accreditation,” said a Rowing Federation of India (RFI) official.

The rowers’ nightmare had actually begun even before they boarded their flight. One of the groups that left Mumbai on Tuesday night was told by Cathay Pacific that they would not be allowed to check in their oars.

Later, the oars were flown to Delhi. They will arrive in Nagoya on Thursday morning, just in time for the first official practice session.Adding to the agony was the Sports Authority of India’s belated intimation that women’s coach Ratheesh Kumar and team manager Ramakrishnan Ramachandran would have to manage their accommodation on their own.Meanwhile, the shooters had to wait for almost three hours for their transport after reaching the Nagoya airport at 9 pm on Tuesday.

“We didn’t get the bus and there was no food. Everything was closed at the airport. The welcome centre had no information, so we had to wait and reach the hotel around 4 am,” a team member told TOI.

Samaresh gets wrong accreditation

India’s pistol shooting head coach Samaresh Jung was in for a rude shock when he came to know his accreditation didn’t allow him to enter the players arena and the field of play during the matches. “It was a shock when we saw Samaresh’s accreditation.

When we enquired, we were told that this was done according to the list the organisers had received from the Indian Olympic Association,” a source said.“We contacted our office at the National Rifle Association of India, and the issue was taken up. We are told that Samaresh will be getting the new accreditation tomorrow,” the source said. Samaresh’s absence would dent India’s medal chances as most of the 10m air pistol shooters like Suruchi Phogat, Akash Bhardwaj have been training under him.

Citing shortage of govt funds, riders left to foot horse feed bill

Indian equestrian riders who are preparing for the Asian Games have been left scrambling to arrange hay, bedding and fodder for their horse combinations, with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA)-appointed ad-hoc committee running the sport citing a “shortage of govt funds”, reports Sabi Hussain.A mail accessed by TOI, signed by Lt Col Sandeep Dewan, member (administration), ad-hoc panel and team leader of the equestrian contingent, states that funds released to the national federation have been largely insufficient even to clear the bill of transporter Peden Bloodstock.

The federation, the mail adds, has covered the shortfall from its own funds.“We regret to inform you that the govt has so far not released any funds for payment of feed and other expenses related to the maintenance of the horses whilst in Japan,” Dewan wrote.

The riders have been asked to purchase feed and other stable requirements directly and claim reimbursement later.The financial strain extends beyond Japan. Riders said they had personally borne expenses for food, travel, accommodation and fees during the horses’ mandatory quarantine in Germany.Reimbursements for pre-quarantine tests, blood and swab tests, horse transportation, athlete accommodation and groom accommodation also remain pending. “Timely support on these essential matters is extremely important for us to focus completely on our performance in the Asian Games,” a rider told TOI on Wednesday.