Pakistan volleyball captain slams Asian Games logistics after team taken to wrong venue

Pakistan volleyball captain Murad Jehan has criticised the logistical arrangements at the ongoing Asian Games in Japan after the national team was taken to the wrong venue shortly before its match against Uzbekistan.

The Pakistan team’s official bus mistakenly took the players to another gymnasium, leaving them short of time before their Pool A encounter at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium.

In a video shared on social media, Jehan said the bus driver appeared unaware of the correct venue and had taken a wrong route.

The captain said the incident left the players with very little time to get ready and warm up before the match.

According to Jehan, some players had to change into their playing kits while still on the bus as the team rushed to reach the correct venue.

The match was subsequently delayed by 45 minutes because of the transportation mix-up, according to an official Games communique. Pakistan eventually overcame the disruption to defeat Uzbekistan 3-0.

Jehan also raised concerns about other arrangements for athletes, particularly food and transportation.

The Pakistan captain’s comments come amid a series of reported logistical problems involving different delegations at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

South Korea, for example, faced a separate transportation issue ahead of the men’s basketball final against hosts Japan. The team was scheduled to travel from its hotel for a morning light practice session, but the shuttle bus failed to arrive at the scheduled 10am pickup time.

The South Korean football team had also encountered transport problems earlier in the Games, including an incident in which its bus reportedly took the team to the wrong stadium, causing a delay.

The incidents have added to wider complaints about transport and accommodation arrangements at the 2026 Asian Games, with organisers acknowledging logistical challenges during the tournament.