Asian Games: Why was Tajinderpal Toor replaced as India's flagbearer with Manu Bhaker?

India was forced to make a last-minute change to its flag-bearers for the Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony. Tajinderpal Singh Toor was replaced by Kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat. Earlier, it was stated that the shot putter would be alongside Bhaker in leading the country at the multi-sport event; however, the athlete was replaced at the last minute.

Asian Games: Why was Tajinderpal Toor replaced as India's flagbearer with Manu Bhaker?

Toor was unable to attend due to a delay in receiving his official ceremonial kit, as per a report by the Press Trust of India. The Indian Olympic Association confirmed this with a short statement which read:

“Due to technical issues, Tajinderpal Singh Toor will not be able to be India’s flagbearer.”

The statement further read:

“Pawan Sehrawat will be India’s male flagbearer today.”

Toor, a two-time Asian Games gold medallist, is currently with the athletics team at an acclimatisation camp in Tsukuba near Tokyo. The team is due to travel to Nagoya only on September 21. He told, as per PTI that his ceremonial kit was expected to arrive at Nagoya airport around 3 p.m., leaving insufficient time to collect it and reach the venue.

Kabaddi star Sehrawat will now join double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker in leading the Indian contingent at the ceremony, scheduled for Saturday evening at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya.

Sehrawat, a key member of India’s gold-medal-winning men’s kabaddi team at the previous Asian Games, steps in as the male flag-bearer. Manu Bhaker remains the female flag-bearer. The ceremony marks the formal start of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

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