CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: The opening ceremony of the Asian Games 2026 will be held today, September 19, in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Shooter Manu Bhaker and shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor had been chosen as India’s flag-bearers for the ceremony, but a change had to be made hours before the event.
Toor could not receive the official ceremony kit in time. He said he had been informed that his kit would reach Nagoya airport at around 3 pm. It would have been difficult to collect the kit from there and reach the ceremony venue on time. He then informed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) that he would not take part in the ceremony. The IOA cited a technical issue as the reason for the change.
Kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat will now be India’s male flag-bearer along with Manu Bhaker. Sehrawat was part of the Indian men’s kabaddi team that won the gold medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. This has had no impact on Toor’s participation in the Asian Games. He is a two-time Asian Games champion and will compete this time with the aim of winning a third consecutive gold medal in shot put. The Indian athletics contingent is currently training in Tsukuba and is scheduled to reach Nagoya on September 21.
Hashtags: #Sports #Bhopal #DeskSource #AsianGames2026 #TajinderpalSinghToor #ManuBhaker #OpeningCeremony #PawanSehrawat #IOA #AichiNagoya
