Asian Games 2026: Indian shooters raise concerns over transport arrangements
A senior coach accompanying India’s 30-member shooting contingent at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has raised concerns over the accommodation and transportation arrangements, particularly the long commute between the shooters’ hotels and the competition venue.
The coach said several Indian shooters are staying at hotels located around 50 km from the shooting range, with the contingent spread across three or four properties. Shooters must gather at one hotel for breakfast before taking buses to the venue, resulting in early starts and lengthy journeys.
The issue became more pronounced on Thursday when buses scheduled to transport the shooters were delayed. A bus expected to leave at 8:40 am reportedly departed after 9 am, while another scheduled for 9:40 am left around 10:30 am. The coach said training was not cancelled but schedules had to be adjusted.
According to the coach, some shooters have had to wake up as early as 5 am and complete breakfast before 6:30 am because the journey to the range can take close to two hours each way. The issue has reportedly been communicated to the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).
While acknowledging that shooting ranges are often located away from major population centres, the coach said he was disappointed that the arrangements in Japan had not matched his expectations.
India’s contingent includes prominent medal contenders such as double Olympic bronze medallist Manu Bhaker and Asian Games medallist Esha Singh. The coach also said he would prefer accommodation on land rather than the cruise ship Costa Serena, where several thousand athletes are being housed, citing the need for a stable routine during competition.
