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PV Sindhu Blames Grueling Schedule for Asian Games Exit, Cites Three Matches in 18 Hours
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News18•28-09-2026, 07:15
PV Sindhu Blames Grueling Schedule for Asian Games Exit, Cites Three Matches in 18 Hours
- •PV Sindhu attributed her Asian Games quarterfinal exit to playing three matches within 18 hours, leading to insufficient recovery time.
- •Sindhu lost to China's Chen Yu Fei after a strong start, highlighting the toll of demanding rallies and limited rest.
- •She expressed disappointment over missing crucial points in the quarterfinal, despite feeling pride in her long Asian Games journey.
- •The challenging schedule also drew criticism from other international players like Jonatan Christie and Kodai Naraoka.
- •India's individual badminton campaign concluded with Sindhu's defeat, with the men's team bronze being the only badminton medal.
Key Questions Answered
PV Sindhu exited the Asian Games following a quarterfinal defeat to China's Chen Yu Fei, losing 21-11, 18-21, 10-21. She noted that playing three matches within an extensive 18-hour window severely limited her recovery time and took a heavy physical toll.
Sindhu criticized the cramped tournament itinerary, stating that playing three matches in such a short span was not well organized and denied players adequate recovery time. Her grueling schedule included finishing a match late past midnight and returning to court early the next morning.
Other international players also faced late finishes and insufficient recovery windows, including Indonesia's Jonatan Christie, Japan's Kodai Naraoka, and Chinese women's doubles world No. 1 Tan Ning.
