India will be led by shooter Manu Bhaker and shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games in Japan on September 19, where the duo will serve as the country’s flagbearers.
The 20th Asian Games are scheduled to be held in Aichi–Nagoya from September 19 to October 4, 2026. The flagbearing role has been described as a historic honour for the two athletes.
The announcement was officially made by India’s contingent chief Sahdev Yadav along with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). India is set to field more than 500 athletes across 37 sports at the Games.
Bhaker, 24, a two-time Olympic medallist, is expected to compete in the 10m air pistol and 25m pistol events. Toor, 31, has won gold in shot put at the Asian Games in both 2018 and 2022 and will compete again in the same discipline.
