The Indian women’s cricket team faced a contrasting experience to what athletes in several other sports have faced in Japan ahead of the 2026 Asian Games while finding their accommodation.
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur and head coach Amol Mazumdar claimed that the team did not face any hassle during check-in, which they said was conducted very quickly.
Athletes from various countries, including several Indians across disciplines, have been left stranded waiting for their accommodation. They have been forced to wait for hours and left without food and water. Some were forced to sleep on the floor in the waiting area too.
However, both Harmanpreet and Amol claimed in a media interaction on Thursday (September 17) that they had no such challenge and that the process was as seamless as any other place they travel to.
“I think the accommodation is nice over here. I mean, we are pretty okay. I don’t think there are any complaints from our end. Just the check-in and everything was absolutely spotless and we were pretty happy about it.In fact, we came in two contingents. The first one was taken care of by the officials right here in the hotel. But as far as Indian women’s cricket team is concerned, I think the accommodation, we don’t have any complaints about it,” said Amol.
“I think even we didn’t face any problems. I think we got everything in 10-15 minutes, like how usually we get the room and everything. I think we didn’t face anything.Even I don’t know what’s going on in the other part of, you know, the media and everything. But people here, they’re very nice. They were very welcoming. Whatever we needed, they provided. And I think we didn’t actually face any problems, and we are pretty happy with all the facilities so far,” Harmanpreet added.
The recently crowned Asian Champions will kickstart their title defense on Friday (September 18) against Japan in the quarter-final. The Women in Blue won the gold medal in 2023 after beating Sri Lanka in the final.