The 2026 Asian Games officially opened in Nagoya, Japan, on Saturday with Manu Bhaker and kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat taking the lead as flag-bearers of the Indian team on the athletes’ parade. They carried the Indian Tricolour at the opening ceremony, which marks the start of India’s campaign at the continental sporting event.
The opening ceremony was at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya for athletes from Asia to start the 20th edition of the Asian Games. Japan’s Aichi-Nagoya is hosting the multi-sport event, with competitions taking place in various venues in the region.
Bhaker’s positioning as flag-bearer continued an incredibly long story in her sport. The shooter became the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single Olympic Games in Paris 2024 when she took two bronze medals.
She has retained her place as one of the top names of Indian shooting in her career and came to the Asian Games as one of the most popular athletes.
For Sehrawat, it’s another significant moment in an already decorated kabaddi career. The experienced raider was part of India’s gold medal-winning kabaddi team at the 2022 Asian Games. He gave the Indian contingent representation from one of the most successful team sports alongside Bhaker, who represents an individual Olympic sport.
Sehrawat’s selection came due to a last-minute change in India’s male flag-bearer. Shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor had originally been named as the first-time flag-bearer along with Bhaker for the opening ceremony. But the logistical problem of his official ceremonial kit meant that Toor couldn’t be invited to the parade, so the Indian Olympic Association picked Sehrawat as the successor.
Toor will be part of India’s Asian Games campaign and is set to compete in the men’s shot put. He is a two-time Asian Games champion and will try to keep his record at the continental competition intact. So the change in flag-bearer did not affect his sporting involvement at the Games.
India has sent a 503-athlete contingent to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games which includes 269 men and 234 women. The athletes are expected to compete in 36 sports disciplines with the Indian team seeking to improve on the performance at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou.
The opening ceremony brought together Japanese cultural aspects and technology and big-scale visual performances. The event officially brought together the participating nations for the traditional Parade of Nations and each delegation was represented with its athletes and flag-bearers.
The presence of Bhaker and Sehrawat in the leading group of the contingent was a highlight for India and a powerful start for the country’s campaign. Their sporting backgrounds also reflect the diversity of India’s Asian Games participation, with shooting and kabaddi both expected to be important in the country’s medal campaign.
Several competitions had already started before the official opening ceremony, including cricket and teqball events. The formal opening on September 19, however, was the ceremonial start of the Games, and set the stage for the rest of the competition.
As the Asian Games move into the competition phase, attention will now turn to India’s athletes for individual and team events. Bhaker will participate in shooting and Sehrawat will participate in India’s kabaddi campaign. The Indian flag-bearers have provided the contingent with an excellent start in Nagoya to compete for medals across the Games.
