Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak and her coach Ashok Mishra faced a late-night accommodation mix-up after they were reportedly assigned the same room at the Asian Games accommodation in Nagoya, Japan.
The incident added to a series of logistical challenges faced by members of the Indian contingent ahead of the 2026 Asian Games, which begin on September 19.
Pranati Nayak, Coach Assigned Same Room
According to NDTV, Nayak and Mishra were allocated the same room aboard the cruise ship being used to accommodate members of the Indian contingent.
The room allocation raised concerns over the mixed-gender accommodation of an athlete and support staff member. The issue remained unresolved for several hours despite attempts to contact organisers and team officials.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) eventually intervened, with alternative arrangements reportedly finalised at around 1:30 am.
Nayak later confirmed to NDTV that the accommodation mix-up had taken place.
“Yes, there was a mix-up during the accommodation. It was resolved around 2:00 am,” Nayak said.
Coach Faces Another Delay
The accommodation issue did not end there.
When Mishra went to collect the keys for his separate room, hotel staff reportedly could not locate his booking in the register.
According to NDTV, the problem was traced to a clerical error in the official paperwork, with the letter “I” missing from his name in the system.
The paperwork and accreditation had to be verified and corrected, reportedly taking another 45 minutes. Mishra was eventually able to reach his room after 2 am.
More Accommodation Issues For Indian Contingent
The incident comes amid wider concerns over accommodation and logistics affecting India’s Asian Games contingent.
NDTV has reported that several athletes faced delays in receiving rooms, while some members of the shooting contingent reportedly faced lengthy journeys to training venues. Other reports have also highlighted accommodation and check-in difficulties involving Indian athletes and officials.
The Asian Games organisers have defended the accommodation arrangements, with organising committee chairman Tayyab Ikram saying that an initial surge in the number of participants created challenges but that athletes and officials were subsequently accommodated.
Pranati Nayak Set For Asian Games Campaign
The accommodation episode came just before Nayak begins her fourth Asian Games appearance.
The 31-year-old gymnast is the only Indian gymnast selected for the 2026 Asian Games and is targeting her maiden medal at the continental event. She has previously won three Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships medals and two World Cup bronze medals.
With competition beginning, the focus now shifts back to the sporting events as Indian athletes prepare to compete in Aichi-Nagoya.
