Pawan Sehrawat Replaces Tajinderpal Singh Toor as India’s Asian Games Flag-Bearer
Pawan Sehrawat replaces Tajinderpal Singh Toor as India Flag-Bearer for Asian Games 2026, joining Manu Bhaker at the Opening Ceremony.
Pawan Sehrawat Replaces Tajinderpal Singh Toor as India’s Asian Games Flag-Bearer Alongside Manu Bhaker at the Asian Games 2026 Opening Ceremony
The Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony will see a last-minute change in India’s flag-bearing lineup. Kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat has replaced shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor as the male India Flag Bearer for the ceremony in Nagoya, Japan. Shooter Manu Bhaker will continue as the female flag-bearer. The change was announced on September 19, shortly before the ceremony.
India Flag-Bearer Change Before Asian Games Opening Ceremony
The India Flag-Bearer Change came after Tajinderpal Singh Toor was unable to attend the Asian Games Opening Ceremony because his official ceremonial kit had not reached him in time.
According to reports, Toor was informed that his kit would arrive at Nagoya airport around 3 p.m. He indicated that collecting the kit and reaching the ceremony venue on time would be difficult. The Indian Olympic Association described the issue as a technical problem.
Toor had originally been selected to carry the Indian flag alongside Manu Bhaker. His selection followed an impressive record at the Asian Games, where he won men’s shot-put gold at Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2023. He is competing at the 2026 Games with the opportunity to seek a third consecutive Asian Games title.
Pawan Sehrawat Takes Over the Flag-Bearer Role
With Toor unavailable for the ceremony, Pawan Sehrawat was chosen as India’s male flag-bearer. The kabaddi player was part of India’s gold-medal-winning men’s kabaddi team at the previous Asian Games.
Sehrawat’s selection brings a prominent kabaddi representative into the spotlight for the Asian Games Opening Ceremony. His international experience and contribution to India’s kabaddi success have made him one of the recognised figures in the Indian contingent.
He was also part of the Indian team that won gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games. His responsibilities at the 2026 Games will extend beyond the opening ceremony, as he remains an important member of India’s men’s kabaddi campaign.
Manu Bhaker Remains India’s Female Flag-Bearer
While the male flag-bearer changed, Manu Bhaker remains India’s female flag-bearer for the Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony.
Bhaker enters the Games with significant international achievements. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, she won bronze medals in the women’s 10m air pistol and the mixed team 10m air pistol event. She became the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single Olympic Games edition.
For Bhaker, carrying the Indian flag represents another important moment in her sporting career. She has also spoken about feeling proud and honoured after learning that she had been selected for the role.
What Happened to Tajinderpal Singh Toor?
The Tajinderpal Singh Toor change was primarily connected with the delayed arrival of his ceremonial kit. Toor explained that the kit was still in India and that the athletics contingent had not received its ceremonial kits at that stage.
He also said he learned about his flag-bearing responsibility only shortly before the ceremony, meaning earlier information could potentially have allowed arrangements to be made for his coach to collect the kit in Japan.
Importantly, Toor’s replacement as flag-bearer does not mean that he has withdrawn from the Asian Games competition itself. He remains focused on the men’s shot put event and his bid for another Asian Games gold medal.
Asian Games 2026 Opening Ceremony in Nagoya
The Asian Games 2026 Opening Ceremony is taking place in Nagoya, Japan, on September 19. The ceremony formally marks the beginning of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with athletes and teams from across Asia participating in the event.
For India, the ceremony will now feature Pawan Sehrawat and Manu Bhaker carrying the national flag. The late change from Tajinderpal Singh Toor to Sehrawat adds an unexpected development to India’s preparations for the continental sporting event.
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India’s Sporting Campaign Continues
The India Flag-Bearer Change is limited to the opening ceremony and does not alter the wider participation plans of the athletes involved. Sehrawat will continue with India’s kabaddi campaign, Bhaker will compete in shooting, and Toor will continue his preparations for men’s shot put.
The development highlights how logistical issues can affect ceremonial arrangements even when athletes remain committed to their respective competitions. As the Asian Games 2026 officially gets underway, attention will now turn from the opening ceremony to India’s performances across sports.
Pawan Sehrawat, therefore, steps into the flag-bearing role at short notice, joining Manu Bhaker as India’s representatives at the Asian Games Opening Ceremony, while Tajinderpal Singh Toor remains focused on his own quest for another Asian Games shot-put title.
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