Indian rowers have reportedly faced another round of logistical difficulties in Nagoya ahead of the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games, with accommodation delays and concerns about food becoming part of the problems confronting the contingent before the competition begins.
The Indian rowing team arrived in Nagoya ahead of its competition, but several athletes reportedly spent hours waiting for their accommodation arrangements to be completed. According to reports from Nagoya, some members of the rowing contingent were left waiting at the Costa Serena cruise ship, which is being used as accommodation for athletes and officials during the Asian Games.
The situation became particularly concerning because the athletes had already travelled for several hours before reaching their accommodation facility. Reports said some rowers arrived at the cruise ship in the morning but continued waiting for room allocation well into the evening.
One Indian rower told The New Indian Express that the team reached the registration area at around 9 am local time and that only a small number of athletes had received rooms several hours later. Some athletes who received accommodation were reportedly asked to share rooms because of difficulties with the allocation process.
Food was another concern reported by members of the Indian contingent. According to the same report, some rowers said they received water but did not have access to proper meals while waiting for their accommodation. Several athletes reportedly relied on food they had carried from India during the delay.
The problem was significant because the rowing competition was scheduled to begin on September 19. Athletes preparing for competition generally need sufficient rest, food and access to training facilities before taking part in their events. The reported delays therefore created additional concerns for the Indian rowing contingent as the Asian Games approached their official opening.
The Indian Express also reported difficulties involving food and accommodation among Indian athletes. A day after the initial problems involving the rowing team, a wushu coach, another coach and a masseur reportedly waited for more than six hours before receiving rooms aboard the Costa Serena. The report said they had only water and snacks from the airport while waiting.
The rowing contingent had also encountered difficulties before reaching Nagoya. According to The Times of India, one group of Indian rowers travelling from Mumbai was initially informed that their oars could not be checked in on their flight. The equipment was subsequently sent to Delhi and was expected to reach Nagoya separately.
There were also reported concerns about accreditation and room registration. A Rowing Federation of India official told The Times of India that only three of the 22 male athletes had accommodation listed against their names at one stage, while the names of three female rowers were reportedly missing from the host registration system despite the athletes having valid accreditation.
These problems have occurred against the backdrop of a different accommodation model for the 2026 Asian Games. Unlike events that use a single purpose-built athletes' village, the Aichi Nagoya Games are using a combination of hotels, temporary accommodation facilities and the Costa Serena cruise ship.
The cruise ship is expected to accommodate thousands of athletes and officials during the Games. Organisers chose the arrangement as part of a broader approach focused on reducing the need for large permanent infrastructure after the event. The Olympic Council of Asia has defended the accommodation plan and said that registered athletes and officials were provided with Games appropriate accommodation.
The organisers have also rejected what they described as incorrect reports about the accommodation situation. In a joint statement, the Olympic Council of Asia and the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee said that more than 17,000 registered athletes and officials had been provided with Games appropriate accommodation. The statement said the participants had been registered before the entry deadline in July.
The organisers' position contrasts with reports from athletes and team officials who described delays at accommodation facilities. The reported experiences therefore appear to involve both administrative and operational problems during the arrival and room allocation process rather than a single issue affecting every member of the Indian contingent.
India's Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav also acknowledged that the Indian contingent had faced an accommodation shortage. According to The Times of India, Yadav said additional hotel rooms had been arranged after the accommodation quota available to the Indian contingent was reduced following arrival in Japan. He said the Indian Olympic Association and Sports Authority of India had made additional arrangements for accommodation and transport.
The logistical concerns have not been restricted to rowing. Indian shooters, wushu athletes and other members of the contingent have also reportedly experienced delays involving transportation, accommodation and accreditation.
The Times of India reported that some athletes arriving in Nagoya waited several hours for credentials to be checked and transport to be arranged. Some arrivals reportedly faced waits extending to more than 12 hours.
Indian shooters also reportedly experienced transportation problems after arriving at Nagoya airport. According to reports, members of the shooting contingent waited for transport and eventually reached their accommodation several hours after landing. Some athletes also faced lengthy journeys between accommodation and training venues.
The accommodation arrangements have therefore become a major topic of discussion before the Asian Games officially begin. The absence of a traditional centralised athletes' village means that athletes are staying at different locations, potentially increasing the complexity of transportation and coordination.
For the Indian rowing team, the immediate priority remains preparation for competition. The athletes have had to manage travel, equipment movement and accommodation uncertainty while preparing for their events.
The reported food shortage has also attracted attention because nutrition is an important part of preparation for endurance sports such as rowing. Athletes travelling internationally for competition generally depend on organisers and team support staff for timely access to meals that fit their competition schedules.
However, available reports should be read alongside the organisers' clarification that registered participants have been provided with appropriate accommodation. The reported problems appear to have involved delays in allocation, registration discrepancies and difficulties during the arrival process, rather than confirmation that all Indian athletes were denied accommodation.
The Asian Games officially begin on September 19 and will continue until October 4. More than 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions are expected to compete across 43 sports.
The Indian rowing team will now look to put the logistical difficulties behind it and focus on competition. With events beginning shortly after the athletes' arrival, the team will be hoping that accommodation, food, transportation and equipment arrangements are settled so that the rowers can concentrate on their performances.
The situation also highlights the importance of effective coordination between athletes, national contingents and local organisers at a major multi sport event. As competition gets underway, organisers will face pressure to ensure that the logistical issues reported during the arrival period do not continue to affect athletes' preparation.
For the Indian rowers, the reported delays have added an unexpected challenge before their campaign begins. Their ability to recover from the disrupted arrival process and focus on competition will now be an important part of their Asian Games campaign.