Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Toor will carry the Indian flag at the opening ceremony of the Aichi‑Nagoya Asian Games, a decision that underscores the country’s pride in its sports stars.
Bhaker, who clinched bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol and a second bronze in the mixed team event at Paris 2024, became the first athlete from independent India to win two medals in a single edition of the Games. Her double haul makes her a standout shooter on the world stage.
Toor, a 31‑year‑old shot‑putter, holds the record as a two‑time defending Asian Games champion—gold in Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2023. He now aims to extend that streak in Nagoya.
The ceremony is set for Saturday, September 19, at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, but the welcome was delayed and abruptly halted due to unspecified logistical trouble. India’s team had to navigate container‑style accommodation, hotels, and a docked cruise ship amid broader concerns over transport and credentialing.
India’s contingent, numbering 503 athletes, is already racing ahead of the formal opening, with competitors in cricket, football, tennis, and athletics ready to claim medals.
The next challenge: India opens the Games with a men’s 4×400m relay on Sunday, where the squad will look to build momentum for the rest of the tournament.