Manu Bhaker tells Indian athletes in Nagoya to focus on performance, not complaints

Manu Bhaker urged her Indian teammates on September 19, 2026 in Nagoya to concentrate on delivering their best at the Asian Games rather than dwelling on organisational problems, and she has been named one of India's two flag-bearers for the opening ceremony that day.

Athletes and officials from several countries, including India, have voiced dismay about mismanagement, cramped accommodation and long travel times between hotels and training venues in the run-up to the Games. Bhaker, 24 and a double Olympic medallist, delivered the message in a video posted by the Indian Olympic Association; at the 2024 Paris Olympics she became the first athlete from Independent India to win two medals in a single edition, taking bronze in the individual and mixed team 10m air pistol events.

She said she had noticed reports of problems circulating on social media and appealed for a different focus. "To all my fellow athletes from India, we will have some issues," Bhaker said. "Regardless of whatever the issues we have, this is probably once in a lifetime opportunity and experience. We have to make sure that we enjoy the time rather than complaining."

Bhaker reiterated that athletes should conserve their energy for competition. "We have worked so hard to be here and we should not waste our energy in pointing out that this is not right and that is not right," she said. "Medal may come or not, that is another story, but we must give our best."

There was a late change to India's ceremonial representation: kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat replaced Tajinderpal Singh Toor as the other flag-bearer earlier on September 19 after organisers reported the shot-putter did not have the ceremonial kit in his luggage and would have been unable to attend the ceremony.

Bhaker described her reaction to being chosen as a flag-bearer in personal terms. "When I started, I never thought I would reach this far one day. It’s definitely feeling proud and honoured," she said, and noted this is her third Asian Games.

She recalled missing the opening ceremony at her first Asian Games in 2018 because she was in Palembang, Indonesia, and said her late coach Jaspal Rana had a rule that she should only take part in opening ceremonies of multi-sport events if she was going to be the flag-bearer. "Since our matches usually start just a day after opening ceremony, it becomes hectic for us. So in opening ceremonies, I am either a flag-bearer or I watch the ceremony on television," she added.

Bhaker will lead the Indian contingent as one of two flag-bearers alongside Pawan Sehrawat at the Asian Games opening ceremony on Saturday, September 19, 2026.