New Delhi, Sep 18: Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and two-time defending Asian Games shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor will carry the Indian flag at the opening ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Saturday.
India’s Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav confirmed Bhaker’s selection, while the Athletics Federation of India announced Toor as the second flag-bearer.
“Manu Bhaker will be one of the flag-bearers,” Yadav said.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for September 19 at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium and will formally mark the beginning of the 20th Asian Games.
Bhaker arrives in Nagoya after a historic performance at the Paris Olympics last year, where she won bronze medals in the women’s 10m air pistol and the mixed team 10m air pistol event alongside Sarabjot Singh.
With the two medals, Bhaker became the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympic Games.
Toor, meanwhile, carries a strong Asian Games record into the continental showpiece. The 31-year-old won shot put gold at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and successfully defended his title at Hangzhou in 2023.
He will now aim to complete a hat-trick of Asian Games gold medals in Aichi-Nagoya while leading an Indian athletics contingent expected to make a significant contribution to the country’s medal tally.
India has sent a 503-member contingent for the Games, with its sporting campaign already underway ahead of Saturday’s formal opening.
The flag-bearers were announced amid organisational concerns surrounding accommodation, transport and credentialing arrangements.
India’s traditional team welcome and flag-hoisting ceremony at Nagoya Port Garden Pier was delayed and subsequently halted after organisers cited unspecified “trouble” involving a team.
Despite the disruption, Indian athletes have begun competing in various disciplines ahead of the opening ceremony.
