Asian Games hit by fresh transport blunder as Pakistan team driven to wrong venue

More organisational chaos dogged the Asian Games in Japan today when the official bus carrying the Pakistan men’s volleyball team went to the wrong venue. — AFP pic

First Published: Monday, 28 Sep 2026 6:03 PM MYT

NAGOYA, Sept 28 — More organisational chaos dogged the Asian Games in Japan today when the official bus carrying the Pakistan men’s volleyball team went to the wrong venue.

Pakistan’s group game with Uzbekistan had to be pushed back 45 minutes because of the mishap.

The bus transporting the Pakistan players was supposed to go to an arena in Okazaki, southeast of Games host city Nagoya.

However, the vehicle mistakenly took them to another Games venue staging volleyball about an hour’s drive away.

“As a result, the team arrived late at the correct competition venue, and we were required to delay the match by 45 minutes,” said an official Games communique.

Pakistan won the match 3-0.

It is more embarrassment for red-faced organisers of the Games, where have there have been numerous complaints about the accommodation and transport services.

Teams have found that buses sometimes arrive at incorrect times, or even not at all.

South Korea were left furious after the bus that was supposed to take them to light practice before their men’s basketball final against hosts Japan failed to turn up. — AFP