‘We didn’t expect this from Japan’: Pakistan volleyball team taken to wrong venue as logistical difficulties mount at Asian Games

Pakistan Volleyball Team (Image: Murad Jehan’s Instagram post) Pakistan’s volleyball team has been moved to the wrong venue ahead of its crucial Group A match against Uzbekistan at the 2026 Asian Games, adding to growing complaints about logistical arrangements at the multi-sport event in Aichi-Nagoya.Pakistan captain Murad Jehan took to Instagram to express his frustration after the team bus headed to the wrong gym, leaving the players with little time before the match.“We have a very important match and the bus driver doesn’t know which gymnasium we’re going to play at,” Jehan said in a video shot on the bus.“He went wrong and came to the wrong gym and now we’re short on time. It’s an embarrassing situation,” he added. “We didn’t expect this from Japan. It shouldn’t have happened.”Asian Games full coverage | Medal Tally | ScheduleThe detour left little time for the players to do their usual pre-match preparations. According to Jehan, some members of the team were forced to change into their playing kit while the bus was moving.

“This is not the only bad driving”

Jehan said the venue mix-up was part of wider logistical difficulties the athletes encountered during the Games.“Really disappointing situation. This is not the only mismanagement that athletes face here,” he said.The Pakistan captain also complained about the availability of food, saying that food was not always available to the athletes in the canteens after training.Games organizers did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the volleyball team’s complaint.Despite the disruption, Pakistan managed to put the incident behind them once they reached the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park gymnasium. They defeated Uzbekistan 3-0 to secure their second consecutive victory in the competition.The episode came just days after the games’ main organizer apologized for widespread logistical glitches. Organizers attributed some of the problems to an unexpected late influx of about 2,000 additional athletes and team officials, which put pressure on operational planning.

The rain adds to the planning headache

The logistical concerns came as persistent rain on Monday caused another series of problems for organizers and disrupted competition in several sports.The men’s cricket quarter-finals involving Pakistan and Hong Kong and India and Afghanistan were both washed out after heavy rain made the pitch at Korogi Athletic Park unplayable. Pakistan and India advanced to the semi-finals based on their higher ranking as there was no reserve day built into the schedule.Afghanistan opener Mohammed Akram expressed his disappointment after his side’s match against India was called off.“It started raining yesterday so we are very lucky,” said Akram. “We would love to play India here – our players are in form.“But unfortunately the rain ruined everything.Tennis matches were also delayed while surfing was called off due to poor wave conditions. India’s Kishore Kumar Anbarasu managed to complete his ride before the end of the surfing program and advanced to the quarterfinals.“It wasn’t the easiest conditions. It was very difficult to find good waves,” said Anbarasu.With the Games running until October 4, organizers face further weather-related challenges, with Typhoon Surigae forecast to move towards central Japan and the Tokyo area later in the week.