Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor named India’s flagbearers for Asian Games 2026

Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor were announced as India's flagbearers for the Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony in Nagoya, scheduled for September 19, 2026.

India has sent a 508-member contingent to the 20th edition of the Asian Games, and the opening ceremony will be held at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya. Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav had earlier announced Bhaker’s selection as a flag bearer, and Team India later confirmed Toor’s selection on X with the post: "Introducing our flag bearers for the Opening Ceremony of the Asian Games 2026 – @realmanubhaker and @Tajinder_Singh3 🇮🇳🫡🙌🏽Let’s #Cheer4Bharat as #TeamIndia readies to take on the field. #JeetHamariHai#WeAreTeamIndia."

Bhaker is described as a two-time Olympic medallist and was part of India’s women’s team that won gold in the 25m pistol at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games. The 24-year-old also won gold in the women’s 10m air pistol at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and secured two bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, becoming "the first Indian to achieve this feat in a single Olympic edition." She is scheduled to compete in the women's 10m air pistol and women's 25m pistol events at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.

Tajinderpal Singh Toor is a two-time Asian Games champion and is the reigning shot put champion at the tournament, having won gold at the Gold Coast 2018 Games and defended his title at the Hangzhou 2022 Games with a best throw of 20.36m. He also took part in the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, finishing fifth with a best throw of 20.27m. On being named flag bearer, Toor said: "I am feeling proud that I will be one of the flag-bearers of the Indian contingent," adding, "It’s a dream of every athlete to be flagbearer of his or her country. I thank the IOA for giving me the honour." He also stated, "It’s a big moment of a lifetime for me that I am going to be the flagbearer along with an Olympic medallist (Bhaker)."

India's campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Games had already begun when the flagbearers were named: the men’s teqball team lost twice in the group stage and exited before reaching the quarter-finals, while the Indian women’s cricket team won by eight wickets against Japan and progressed to the semi-finals.

The Asian Games will be held in Aichi‑Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, with the Paloma Mizuho Stadium hosting the opening ceremony on September 19, 2026.