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

PV Sindhu criticized 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 the third round match ending after midnight. She was back on court on Sunday afternoon in the quarterfinals against China’s Chen Yufei, which she lost.“Not really, because the schedule was not really well organized, that’s what I feel,” Sindhu said when asked if she had ever played two matches in a major championship before.The two-time Olympic medalist said the short gap between matches left little time for recovery.“We literally slept really late and then came back in the morning (Sunday), played two games in a day. The most important priority is recovery.”

‘You must recover’

Sindhu said the challenge was not just about mental preparation for the next match. Equally important was physical regeneration between matches.“It’s more than mental preparation, you need to recover. Even if you think you’re doing well, physically you might not be able to go there or not be able to play.”She said the lack of recovery is more visible during long rallies.“When there are long rallies, definitely, recovery. When you had a good thing, you would automatically (drive), but your legs weren’t moving.“But other than that I think it was a good game overall, just that the schedule should have been a little better.Unnati Hooda also expressed her disappointment with the schedule after the players had to play more than one match in a day.“I won’t blame it on my loss (in the quarterfinals), but the schedule could have been handled better.”

Sindhu questions the absence of Hawk-Eye

Sindhu also felt the absence of Hawk-Eye on Court 4 made things difficult during her quarter-final.Some lines were close, but there was no player challenge as Hawk-Eye was only installed on Exhibition Courts 1 and 2 of the Ichinomiya Gymnasium.“There were no cameras here. That was really sad. I felt there were 2-3 shots on the line. There should have been a camera in the quarter-finals at the Asian Games, I feel. Because these are key matches.”Sindhu said that the ranking system can make a difference, especially when she is going against a close player.“If you get it, it’s good. You have the upper hand. You’re playing the cameras, you’re playing the reviews.”“We can contest it, or if it’s your point, you have a one-point advantage. Sometimes the opponent can’t move and the shuttle drops there and the linesman calls it. And if you call, you get a point.”“So it’s kind of an advantage. In the second game, I felt like 2-3 shots were clear. But the linesman, you can’t do anything about that.”