India’s Asian Games Medical Team Handles 24/7 Care Across Japan 

The India Asian Games medical team is facing an unusually demanding task at the 2026 Asian Games, where the Indian contingent is spread across Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, and Tokyo instead of staying in a single athletes’ village. Led by chief medical officer Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, the six-member unit is responsible for the health of around 700 athletes and officials. 

The team has also travelled with 120 kg of medicines and 450 kg of recovery and physiotherapy equipment to manage the medical needs of the contingent. 

The absence of a central athletes’ village means medical support cannot be concentrated in one location. Instead, the Asian Games medical team has to monitor athletes staying in different hotels while also managing travel between venues and accommodation sites. 

Pardiwala has described the situation as requiring real-time monitoring across multiple fronts. Emergency calls can come during the night, including around 2 am, adding another layer to an already demanding schedule. 

The medical preparations also reflect the range of issues that can emerge during a major multi-sport event. Along with medicines, the team has carried extensive physiotherapy and recovery equipment so athletes can receive treatment and rehabilitation support without depending entirely on external facilities. 

For a contingent spread across several Japanese locations, medical care involves more than treating injuries after competitions. Coordination, quick access to medicines, recovery support and continuous communication are all part of the operation. 

The India Asian Games medical team includes three doctors, with the remaining members supporting the wider medical operation. The scale of equipment being transported also shows how much logistical planning is required behind the competition schedule. 

Pardiwala has previously worked with several prominent Indian athletes, including Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Mirabai Chanu, PV Sindhu and Vinesh Phogat, adding extensive experience to the medical setup. 

As competition continues across Aichi-Nagoya and other venues, the Indian athletes’ medical support will remain an around-the-clock operation. The team must continue responding to injuries, illness and recovery requirements while coordinating care across different locations. 

With no single village bringing the Indian contingent together, maintaining that network of medical support will remain an important part of India’s Asian Games campaign.