An Indian athlete competing at the Asian Games in Nagoya has become the latest voice highlighting severe organizational failures that have plagued the multi-sport event since it kicked off in Japan.
Sanyal, who earned a bronze medal at the Asian Championships held in China earlier this year, described how his journey from London to Nagoya — which involved connections through Mumbai and Singapore — was supposed to mark the beginning of a dream, but instead turned into a frustrating ordeal once he touched down in Japan.
According to Sanyal's account, immediately after reaching Japanese territory, he was forced to wait for several hours across multiple facilities. Officials appeared unsure of how to process his entry formalities and could not quickly assign him accommodation at the athlete village. The repeated holdups left him stranded without clear guidance or timely support.
The situation grew so distressing that Sanyal took to social media, recording an emotional video in which he referred to himself as "a ghost" — suggesting he felt invisible, ignored, and abandoned by the very system meant to support him. The clip quickly gained traction online, drawing attention from sports journalists and fans alike.
However, within hours of the video's release, Sanyal deleted his post. It was unclear whether he removed it due to pressure, regrets about sharing his frustration publicly, or fears of professional repercussions.
His experience mirrors complaints raised by other Indian athletes at the Nagoya Games, who have reported similar issues ranging from last-minute schedule changes and inadequate transport to poor food quality and cramped living quarters in the athletes' village. The organizers have come under fire from multiple delegations for lapses in planning and communication.
Sports administrators in India have acknowledged the concerns raised by their athletes but stopped short of making a formal protest. Officials are understood to be collecting detailed grievances from various competitors to present to the organizing committee.
As the Asian Games continue, questions persist about whether the host will be able to address the growing list of complaints before they escalate further and affect the performance and morale of participating athletes.
Sanyal's case has become symbolic of the broader dysfunction, with many viewing his deleted video as a cautionary example of athletes being discouraged from speaking out about systemic problems.
