Indian badminton stars face transport delays ahead of Asian Games

Indian badminton players Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are preparing to defend their men’s doubles title at the 2026 Asian Games. Speaking to the media, Rankireddy noted that his recent rehabilitation for a shoulder injury has been successful, providing him with the physical strength required for consecutive matches.

Rankireddy also praised the rising women’s doubles pair, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, describing them as a “top-five pair” due to their discipline and form.

Despite positive accommodation at their five-star hotel, Rankireddy revealed that the Indian contingent experienced a significant transport disruption, leaving players waiting approximately six hours for a bus. This delay was part of broader reported issues at Aichi Sky Expo, where a system failure reportedly prevented several international delegations from accessing pre-arranged shuttle transfers.