Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor to carry India flag at Aichi-Nagoya opening ceremony

Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor will carry the Indian flag at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on September 19, appointments confirmed on Friday by India’s Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav and the Athletics Federation of India.

Bhaker is a two-time Olympic medallist, having won bronze in the women's 10m air pistol and a second bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol with Sarabjot Singh at Paris 2024, while Toor is the defending Asian Games shot put champion, having taken gold at Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2023 with a best throw of 20.36m. Both athletes are listed among India’s leading medal prospects as the country sends a 492-athlete contingent aiming to build on the 107 medals won at Hangzhou.

Sahdev Yadav announced Bhaker's selection as one of the flag-bearers and the Athletics Federation of India confirmed Toor as the other. Their appointments come after Neeraj Chopra withdrew from the Asian Games following an ankle ligament tear in training, a development the source said brought his 2026 season to an early end.

India's traditional flag-hoisting ceremony on Friday was delayed and affected by logistical issues, the source reported. Despite that disruption, several Indian athletes have already started competition in Aichi-Nagoya.

Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza has advanced to the women's singles semi-finals in teqball and is one win away from guaranteeing India its first-ever Asian Games medal in the sport, while the women's cricket team have begun their campaign in the quarter-finals against hosts Japan, having bowled Japan out for 57 to place themselves in a strong position to progress to the semi-finals.

For Bhaker the flag-bearing honour follows her Paris Olympics success and the source noted it adds another milestone to a career that changed dramatically at those Games, where her two bronzes made her the first Indian female athlete to win multiple medals at one Olympics. The 31-year-old Toor will head into Aichi-Nagoya looking to extend his Asian Games record and pursue a third successive men's shot put gold.

Bhaker and Toor will lead the Indian contingent into the opening ceremony on September 19, and the Games will proceed with India contesting multiple events where medal opportunities already exist in teqball, cricket and athletics.