Manu Bhaker, Tajinderpal Toor named flag bearers for Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and two-time defending Asian Games shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor will carry the Indian tricolour at the Nagoya opening ceremony on Saturday — a pairing that signals India's intent to go beyond its record 107-medal Hangzhou haul with 500-plus athletes gunning across 37 sports.
Key Takeaways
Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor named India's flag-bearers for the 20th Asian Games opening ceremony in Nagoya on Saturday, 20 September 2026 .
The opening ceremony takes place at Paloma Mizuho Stadium between 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm IST .
More than 500 Indian athletes will compete across 37 sports ; the Games conclude on 4 October 2026 .
India targets surpassing its record 107 medals (28 gold) from Hangzhou 2023 .
India are defending champions in men's and women's cricket , kabaddi , and men's hockey .
This is Japan's third time hosting the Asian Games, after Tokyo 1958 and Hiroshima 1994 .
Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been named India's flag-bearers for the opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, scheduled for Saturday, 20 September 2026. The ceremony will be held at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium between 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm IST, marking the formal start of the continent's biggest multi-sport event.
Why Bhaker and Toor Lead the March
Manu Bhaker made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by becoming the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win two medals at a single Olympic edition, claiming bronze in both the 10m air pistol individual event and the 10m air pistol mixed team event. She also has Asian Games gold to her name, having been part of the gold-medal-winning 25m pistol women's team at Hangzhou 2023.
Tajinderpal Singh Toor, meanwhile, is a two-time defending Asian Games champion in shot put, making him one of India's most decorated track-and-field performers on the continental stage. Together, the two flag-bearers represent the breadth of India's sporting resurgence — from precision shooting to raw athletic power.
Scale of India's Campaign
More than 500 Indian athletes are set to compete across 37 sports at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, which run through 4 October 2026. India heads into the competition aiming to surpass its record-breaking Hangzhou 2023 tally of 107 medals, including 28 gold — the country's best-ever Asian Games haul.
India are the defending champions in both men's and women's cricket and kabaddi, while the men's hockey team also arrives as reigning continental champions, making title defence a key theme of the campaign.
Key Athletes to Watch
Beyond Bhaker and Toor, India's medal charge will be spearheaded by a formidable roster. PV Sindhu leads the badminton contingent, while Mirabai Chanu heads the weightlifting team. Aman Sehrawat will represent India in wrestling, and Lovlina Borgohain will compete in boxing.
Athletics features over 75 Indian track and field athletes, with Gulveer Singh, Tejaswin Shankar, Murali Sreeshankar, Jyothi Yarraji, and Parul Chaudhary among the leading medal prospects. Olympic qualification spots are also on offer in archery, sailing, squash, surfing, and tennis, adding an extra layer of significance for several athletes.
About the 20th Asian Games
The Asian Games, organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), are held once every four years and represent the largest multi-sport event on the continent. The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 edition will see 45 countries and regions compete across 43 sports. This is the third time Japan has hosted the Games, following Tokyo 1958 and Hiroshima 1994. With ambitions high and a record haul to beat, India's march into the stadium on Saturday will carry the weight of that expectation.
Point of View
Not cricket, are now the marquee faces of the country's multi-sport ambitions. The real test at Nagoya, however, is not symbolism but numbers — can India's 500-strong contingent deliver beyond the 107-medal Hangzhou benchmark, particularly in the Olympic-qualifying disciplines where the margins are razor-thin?
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are India's flag-bearers at the 2026 Asian Games opening ceremony?
India's flag-bearers for the 20th Asian Games opening ceremony in Nagoya are shooter Manu Bhaker and shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor. The ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, 20 September 2026, at Paloma Mizuho Stadium.
Why was Manu Bhaker chosen as a flag-bearer?
Manu Bhaker was chosen for her historic achievement at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she became the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win two medals at a single Olympic edition. She also has Asian Games gold to her name from Hangzhou 2023.
What is Tajinderpal Singh Toor's record at the Asian Games?
Tajinderpal Singh Toor is a two-time defending Asian Games champion in shot put, having won gold at the previous two editions of the continental games. He heads into Nagoya as the overwhelming favourite to retain his title.
How many Indian athletes are competing at the 2026 Asian Games?
More than 500 Indian athletes are set to compete across 37 sports at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, which run until 4 October 2026.
What is India's medal target at the 2026 Asian Games?
India is aiming to surpass its record haul of 107 medals, including 28 gold, from the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games — the best performance in the country's continental games history.
