India, Oct. 1 -- Cupping marks on shoulders, compression boots between events, ice baths after competition are all familiar sights at multi-discipline tournaments. At the ongoing Asian Games, athletes are being asked to compete again before their bodies have had enough time to recover.

PV Sindhu, for instance, had to play three matches within 18 hours, a schedule she said significantly affected her physical condition and recovery.

Gulveer Singh raced and medalled in the men's 10,000m, 5000m and 1500m all in a span of four days, while Vithya Ramraj ran the 400m hurdles, where she broke the national record, before returning the next day to anchor India's gold-medal winning 4x400m relay team.

China's 13-year-old Yu Zidi competed in three ...