Indian badminton star HS Prannoy has raised concerns over the tight scheduling at the 2026 Asian Games, after Indian shuttlers Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda were required to play two matches on the same day.The scheduling issue came up on Saturday, September 26, when the players had only a few hours between their second-round matches and their Round of 16 fixtures. Prannoy questioned whether such a short turnaround gives players enough time to recover.Key HighlightsHS Prannoy questioned the tight badminton schedule at Asian Games 2026.Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda played two matches on September 26.Their second-round matches ended only hours before their Round of 16 fixtures.The compressed schedule has raised concerns about player recovery.The individual badminton competition is being played over a short period in Nagoya.What Did HS Prannoy Say?Prannoy expressed concern about the scheduling after younger Indian players had to return to the court just hours after completing their earlier matches.The veteran shuttler pointed to the physical demands of playing multiple high-intensity matches in a single day. His comments came as the individual badminton events moved into the knockout stages at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.The issue is particularly relevant in singles, where players have to cover large areas of the court and sustain long rallies. A short recovery window can leave players with limited time for rest, treatment and preparation for the next opponent.Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda Play TwiceIndian men's singles player Ayush Shetty and women's singles player Unnati Hooda were among the players affected by Saturday's schedule.Both had to complete their earlier-round matches before returning to the court for the Round of 16 later in the day. The tight turnaround meant that their second matches came only a few hours after their first assignments.The individual badminton draw had already indicated that some players could face two rounds on the same day. The Indian Express also highlighted the possibility of two-round days for Indian players including Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty and PV Sindhu.(READ MORE : Asian Games 2026: Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet Win Gold In Air Pistol , Smash Asian Record)Why Is the Schedule a Concern?Badminton matches can vary considerably in length, depending on the number of games and the intensity of rallies. Players need time between matches for hydration, recovery, physiotherapy and tactical preparation.A compressed schedule can therefore become an additional challenge, particularly in a knockout competition where one difficult match can determine whether an athlete continues in the tournament.The Asian Games badminton individual competition is being conducted over a short window, adding to the scheduling pressure on players.Prannoy's Asian Games CampaignThe 2026 Asian Games are particularly significant for Prannoy, who has indicated that this could be his final appearance at the continental event.Prannoy won a bronze medal in men's singles and helped India secure a historic silver in the men's team event at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. He is part of India's badminton contingent in Nagoya and has been targeting another strong campaign.The veteran shuttler has also spoken about the possibility of continuing his career towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, although he plans to assess his situation over the coming months.India at Asian Games 2026 BadmintonIndia entered the badminton competition with strong medal expectations across the team and individual events.The Indian men's team had already secured a medal at the Games, while the individual draws brought challenging match-ups for several Indian players. Lakshya Sen, PV Sindhu, Ayush Shetty and India's doubles combinations are among the players competing in the knockout stages.The scheduling issue adds another layer of difficulty as Indian shuttlers attempt to progress through the individual events.
