The Indian athletics contingent’s preparations for the Asian Games 2026 in Japan have begun with some logistical teething problems, with accommodation, food and transport emerging as concerns for athletes based around Nagoya and Tsukuba.

A report published by the Times of India on Wednesday said members of the Indian athletics contingent faced difficulties after arriving in Japan. These included a lengthy wait for hotel check-in, breakfast arrangements and transportation to the training facility.

However, conversations by NNIS with several members of the Indian athletics contingent suggest that while there have been problems, athletes said the issues were being handled and that the situation remained manageable.

The picture emerging is therefore more nuanced than the initial headlines.

What Did the Times of India Report?

According to the Times of India, the Indian athletics contingent arrived in Japan on Sunday and faced a wait of more than four hours before completing hotel check-in.

The report said the men’s and women’s teams, along with coaches, were staying in three different hotels. The hotels are located more than four kilometres from the University of Tsukuba training facility.

The report also said members of the men’s contingent were informed that breakfast had not been arranged at their hotel on Monday morning. Some athletes reportedly went out to find food themselves.

Transport was another concern raised in the report. Sources told TOI that a designated bus did not arrive for a training session on Monday evening.

The athletes are in the Tsukuba area as part of their final preparations before the Asian Games competition.

Athletes Tell NNIS: Problems Exist, But They Are Manageable

NNIS spoke to several members of the contingent about the situation on the ground.

One athlete acknowledged that there had been teething problems, particularly around food and transport.

“There have been problems like fruits are not being provided, we have to go out and buy our own fruits,” the athlete told NNIS.

However, the athlete also said that the Indian restaurant being used for lunch and dinner was “good and manageable.”

The bigger challenge, according to the athlete, has been the frequency of transport to the training ground.

The training facility is around 3–4 km from the hotel, but limited bus trips mean athletes have had to organise their training and meal schedules around the available transport.

“The frequency of the bus trips is very less, so we have to schedule our training and eating time accordingly to the bus timings,” the athlete said.

For elite athletes in the final phase of preparation, even relatively short distances can become significant when travel schedules have to fit around training, recovery and meals.

Athletics Chief Coach Rejects Wider Concerns

Radhakrishnan Nair, the Athletics Chief Coach, strongly pushed back against the suggestion that the Indian athletics contingent was facing a wider logistical crisis.

His response was blunt:

“All nonsense.”

Nair acknowledged that there had been an issue at one of the hotels where the male athletes are staying. However, he said there was no issue with transport for training.

He also pointed to Athletics Federation of India social media posts from Monday and Tuesday showing athletes at training.

On food, Nair said breakfast was included at the hotel, while lunch and dinner were being provided at an Indian restaurant.

According to Nair, the restaurant serves rice, chapatti, dal, chicken, mutton, fish, two vegetarian dishes, fruits and milk.

His account therefore differs in some respects from the concerns reported by TOI and the athlete who spoke to NNIS.

Why Athlete Accommodation and Logistics Matter

The issue of Nagoya athlete accommodation is particularly important because athletes competing at the Asian Games need a predictable daily routine.

For track and field athletes, preparation involves much more than simply reaching the stadium. Training sessions, meals, hydration, recovery, sleep and travel all have to work together.

A short distance on a map can also become more complicated when multiple teams are staying at different hotels and transport operates according to fixed schedules.

The Indian athletics contingent is now in the final stretch of its preparations. With competition approaching, the priority for athletes will be to establish a stable routine and focus on performance.

A Bumpy Start, But Not the Whole Story

The reports from Japan point to genuine logistical issues during the opening days of the Indian athletics contingent’s stay.

At the same time, feedback received by NNIS from several members of the contingent suggests that the problems should be viewed as teething issues rather than the complete picture of the athletes’ experience.

There are different accounts on some specifics, particularly breakfast, transport and the availability of food. Those differences are worth noting.

What is clear is that the Indian athletics team has arrived in Japan, training is underway and athletes are working towards the Asian Games 2026.

For the athletes, the logistical details matter.

But once they step onto the track, into the throwing circle or onto the runway, the focus will shift from hotel buses and meal schedules to the competition itself.

The Asian Games are almost here.

And Indian athletics is getting ready.