Kabaddi Star Pawan Sehrawat Replaces Tajinderpal Singh Toor as India's Asian Games 2026 Flag-Bearer

Key facts

• Kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat replaced shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor as India's male flag-bearer for the Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony in Nagoya, joining shooter Manu Bhaker who carries the women's flag.
• Toor withdrew after his ceremonial kit was scheduled to reach Nagoya airport only at 3pm, making it impossible to collect it and reach the opening ceremony venue on time.
• The 30-year-old Sehrawat was part of the Indian men's kabaddi team that won gold at the previous Asian Games.
• India's chef-de-mission Sahdev Yadav confirmed the change to PTI.
• Manu Bhaker became the first athlete from Independent India to win two medals at a single Olympics, taking bronze in both the individual and mixed team 10m air pistol events at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
• At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, athletics contributed 29 medals (6 gold, 14 silver, 9 bronze) and shooting 22 medals (7 gold, 9 silver, 6 bronze), as India finished with a record 106 medals including 28 gold.