Sports · India
Asian Games 2026: Visa delays, accommodation woes and equipment loss affect athletes
The 2026 Asian Games scheduled for Aichi‑Nagoya, Japan will feature Indian athletes including Shriya Gupta and Vishal Thapar from Jammu & Kashmir. Eight Indian athletes have reported visa delays, and four to five more are still awaiting clearance from Japanese authorities. Organisers have suggested using a cruise ship to house participants after complaints about insufficient hotel rooms. Sri Lankan javelin contender Rumesh Pathirage lost his 90‑metre‑plus javelins in airline transit, a setback to his preparation. The Games will also see the debut of teqball, a soccer‑ping‑pong hybrid whose founders aim for Olympic inclusion. Coverage notes these logistical challenges but does not indicate any resolution as of the reports.
How outlets across the spectrum covered it
L 3 C 8 R 2
- Left (3): National Herald, The Hindu, The Telegraph (India)
- Centre (8): Greater Kashmir, Hindustan Times, Mathrubhumi English, Outlook India, Telangana Today, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Tribune
- Right (2): Dainik Jagran, Firstpost
- International (5): Al Jazeera English, Channel News Asia, France 24, Gulf News, The Japan Times