This can't be! 'Match starts at 8 a.m.' AG's chaotic operation leaves An Se-young bewildered → Japan also in tears [Aichi Nagoya AG]

*This content was translated by AI.

For the first time in history, a match at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games began after midnight, marking an unprecedented tragedy 32 years after the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games were held in Japan. Due to chaotic operations that failed even to properly reassign courts, both players and spectators suffered significant harm, triggering fierce criticism from within and outside Japan.

On the 26th, a highly anticipated clash between Japan's next-generation ace Tomoka Miyazaki (20, world No. 7) and India's star Pusarla Venkata Sindhu (31, world No. 9) took place in the women's singles third round at Ichinomiya City Gymnasium in Japan. However, this blockbuster match between top-ranked players did not begin until 0:08 a.m. on the 27th, well into the next day.

According to Japanese media outlet The Digest, badminton matches at this tournament were scheduled with an extremely tight timetable requiring two games per day. Miyazaki had defeated a Mongolian player 2-0 in the second round and advanced to the third round, but earlier matches on her assigned court dragged into extended close contests, causing the start time to be pushed back uncontrollably. The organizing committee's chaotic response—including failing to flexibly reassign games to available courts—forced players to endure indefinite waiting periods.

Despite being a tournament held in Japan featuring clashes among popular stars, the stands were eerily empty. Except for media personnel and a few officials, the scene was virtually devoid of spectators. After a tedious wait, Miyazaki, who completely failed to adjust her physical condition, appeared sluggish and suffered a decisive 0-2 (9-21, 13-21) defeat against Sindhu. The match concluded at 0:49 a.m.

An Se-young (24, Samsung Life), known as the "Queen of Shuttlecocks" and aiming for the first-ever back-to-back Asian Games women's singles titles in Korean badminton history, was reportedly visibly frustrated after completing her second-round women's singles match on the 26th regarding the grueling schedule of two matches per day.

Foreign media outlets also expressed outrage over the absurdly broken schedule. Boria Majumdar, a reporter for Indian sports outlet "LiveSports" covering the event, criticized via social media: "It is now 1 a.m. after the match ended. Did someone cast a spell on this chaotic schedule? It's simply ridiculous and absurd."

Vinyak, a reporter for Indian outlet "The Field," also condemned the schedule as "a completely reckless disregard for players' health" while sharing the next day's itinerary. This was because the victorious Sindhu had to face an inhumanly tight schedule, playing her quarterfinal match just around 1 p.m. on the 27th—barely 12 hours after her previous game. Foreign media outlets also questioned, "For whom and for what purpose are these matches being held?" while criticizing the organizers' incompetence.

Japanese spectators' anger also erupted. Shuttle buses running between the gymnasium and nearby Ichinomiya Station were discontinued as early as 10:40 p.m., forcing most attendees to leave the venue prematurely. On social media, fans vented their fury and sighs with comments such as "I bought tickets to watch the match but had to give up due to lack of transportation home," "Wasted money on tickets only," and "The tournament operation was a complete mess in every aspect."

While it is difficult to pinpoint exact end times for badminton matches due to the sport's nature, the inflexible court assignments and overly ambitious scheduling appear destined to trigger severe backlash, infringing not only on players' physical conditions but also spectators' rights.

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*This content was translated by AI.