Pawan Sehrawat replaces Tajinderpal Singh Toor as India's flag-bearer at Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony

Flag-bearer change in Nagoya

Kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat led the Indian contingent into the opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya alongside double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, replacing shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who had been originally named the male flag-bearer but was ruled out of the ceremonial role owing to a technical issue. The late switch was confirmed in Indian Olympic Association communications as the 158-member Indian contingent prepared to enter the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Aichi-Nagoya on September 19, 2026.

Ceremony and the Indian parade

Emperor Naruhito of Japan declared the Games open at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, with traditional Japanese elements blended with contemporary performances, technology and music inside the venue. The Indian tricolour moved through the arena as Bhaker and Sehrawat led the parade, an image carried across coverage of the ceremonial start of the two-week continental multi-sport event.

Athletes' reactions to the honour

Speaking before the ceremony, Bhaker said the flag-bearer role brought back memories of her first Asian Games appearance as a teenager and described the moment as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Sehrawat, who was part of India's gold-medal-winning kabaddi campaign at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, called the flag-bearing responsibility a moment of immense pride and said he was proud to share the honour with an Olympic medallist.

Competition footprint for the two flag-bearers

Bhaker is entered in the women's 10m air pistol, women's 25m pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team events at these Games, her third Asian Games after her debut at the 2018 edition in Jakarta and Palembang. Sehrawat is part of India's men's kabaddi squad looking to defend the title India has held at eight of the nine editions in which the sport featured, with the 2018 Games in Jakarta and Palembang the only previous occasion the team settled for bronze.

Build-up to medal contention

India entered the Nagoya edition carrying the memory of its record 107-medal haul, including 28 gold medals, at Hangzhou 2023. Even before the ceremony, competition had begun in several disciplines, including women's cricket, soft tennis and teqball, with the opening days offering early medal opportunities for Indian athletes alongside the ceremonial start of the Games.