Manu Bhaker, Tajinderpal Singh Toor Named India’s Flagbearers for Asian Games 2026 Opening Ceremony

Olympic shooting medallist Manu Bhaker and defending Asian Games champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor will carry the Indian flag at the Opening Ceremony of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Saturday.

The announcement brings together two athletes from different sporting disciplines who have played prominent roles in India’s recent multi-sport success. Bhaker, one of the country’s leading shooting stars, will share the honour with Toor, the reigning Asian Games champion in men’s shot put.

More than 500 Indian athletes are set to compete across 37 sports at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which will continue until October 4.

India’s Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav confirmed that Bhaker would be one of the country’s flagbearers during the Opening Ceremony. The Athletics Federation of India subsequently confirmed that Toor would be the second flagbearer, completing India’s representation at the head of the contingent for the ceremony. The choice of Bhaker comes after an exceptional Olympic career that has already seen the 24-year-old establish herself as one of India’s most prominent shooters. She is a double Olympic medallist and will be looking to add Asian Games success to her growing list of achievements in Japan.

Bhaker is scheduled to compete in the 10m air pistol and 25m pistol events at the Asian Games. Her participation will therefore be one of the major points of interest for the Indian contingent as the shooting competition gets underway. Her role as flagbearer adds another significant milestone to a career that has rapidly developed on the international stage.

Toor Eyes Third Consecutive Asian Games Gold

Standing alongside Bhaker will be Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who enters the Asian Games with a specific target of his own.

The 31-year-old shot putter is aiming for a third consecutive Asian Games gold medal. Toor won the men’s shot put title at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta before successfully defending his crown at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. A third successive gold would put Toor among the notable athletes in Indian Asian Games history, while also extending his dominance in an event where he has been a consistent presence for the country.

His selection as flagbearer also provides representation for Indian athletics at the Opening Ceremony, with Toor set to compete later in the Games as he pursues another continental title.

The Aichi-Nagoya edition will see India arrive with a substantial contingent across 37 sports. The country will be looking to build on its record performance at the previous edition in Hangzhou, China, in 2023. India finished the Hangzhou Asian Games with 106 medals, including 28 gold medals. The performance marked a significant milestone for Indian sport and set a new benchmark for the country at the continental multi-sport event.

The focus now shifts to Japan, where athletes across shooting, athletics, badminton, tennis, wrestling, boxing, hockey, archery, weightlifting and several other disciplines will compete for medals. The Opening Ceremony will formally begin the Games, while Bhaker and Toor will have the responsibility of leading the Indian contingent into the stadium.

Full Asian Games Coverage

For Bhaker, the honour comes at a particularly important stage of her career. Her presence will attract attention in the shooting events, where India has traditionally fielded a strong contingent. She will compete in two individual events in Japan. For Toor, the ceremony marks the beginning of another attempt to extend an already successful Asian Games record. His pursuit of a third straight gold medal makes the shot put competition one of the key athletics events for Indian fans.

Having athletes from shooting and athletics serve as flagbearers reflects the breadth of India’s sporting contingent at the Asian Games. Bhaker and Toor will now lead the Indian delegation into the opening ceremony before turning their attention to their respective competitions. With more than 500 Indian athletes scheduled to compete, the Games will provide another major opportunity for the country’s athletes to compete against the best in Asia.

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will conclude on October 4, bringing together athletes from across the continent in what will be a major test of India’s sporting depth. For Bhaker and Toor, however, the Games will begin with a moment away from their respective competition arenas. On Saturday, they will lead India into the Opening Ceremony, carrying the national flag at the start of the country’s latest Asian Games campaign.