Manu Bhaker, Tajinderpal Singh Toor named India's flag-bearers for Asian Games opening ceremony

Double Olympic medal-winning shooter Manu Bhaker and defending shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor were named India's flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony in Nagoya, Japan on Friday (September 18, 2026). The ceremony is scheduled for Saturday (September 19).

India's chef-de-Mission Sahdev Yadav announced the selection, saying, "Manu Bhaker will be one of the flag-bearers," and the Athletics Federation of India later confirmed that Toor will be the second flag-bearer. The pair were chosen to lead the Indian contingent into the stadium for the opening ceremony.

Manu Bhaker is described in the report as a double Olympic medal-winning shooter. Bhaker made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by becoming the first athlete from independent India to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympic Games.

Tajinderpal Singh Toor is identified as the defending shot put champion for India. Toor has finished with gold medals in the past two editions of the Asian Games.

The Hindu published the report on September 18, 2026 at 01:18 pm IST and updated it at 01:21 pm IST from Nagoya. The article included a combination image of Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor with photo credit to PTI.

Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor will carry India’s flag at the Asian Games opening ceremony in Nagoya on Saturday, September 19.