Nagoya, Japan | September 18: Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and two-time defending Asian Games champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor will carry the Indian flag at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Saturday.
The announcement brings together two of India’s established champions from shooting and athletics to lead the country’s contingent into the 20th Asian Games.
Bhaker’s selection was announced by India’s Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav, while the Athletics Federation of India confirmed Toor as the second flag-bearer.
Bhaker arrives in Nagoya as one of India’s most prominent shooting stars. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, she became the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympic Games, claiming bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol and the mixed team 10m air pistol.
The 24-year-old shooter is part of India’s 30-member shooting squad for Aichi-Nagoya and is entered in multiple events, including the women’s 10m air pistol and 25m sports pistol.
Toor, meanwhile, heads into the Games with a formidable Asian Games record. The Punjab shot-putter won gold at Jakarta 2018 and successfully defended his title at Hangzhou 2022. He is now attempting to become the first Indian athlete to win three consecutive Asian Games gold medals in men’s shot put.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games officially begin on September 19 and run until October 4, with competition spread across the Aichi-Nagoya region and other Japanese cities. The Games feature 43 sports and 469 medal events.
India enters the Games after its record performance at Hangzhou, where it won 107 medals — 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze — finishing fourth in the overall medal standings.
With Bhaker and Toor leading the Indian contingent at the opening ceremony, two athletes with contrasting sporting journeys will carry the national flag as India begins its campaign at another major continental sporting stage.
