Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat led the Indian contingent
India stepped into the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya with Olympic shooting medalist Manu Bhaker and kabaddi icon Pawan Sehrawat proudly carrying the national flag during the opening ceremony parade. Marching into the arena before thousands of spectators, the duo represented over 500 Indian athletes competing across diverse sporting disciplines in Japan. Nagoya marks another historic chapter in Asian multi-sport history, continuing an event trajectory that began in New Delhi in 1951.
Last-minute administrative confusion forced an unexpected adjustment to India's flagbearer lineup hours before the celebration. Shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor was originally designated to march alongside Bhaker. However, an unresolved logistical delay in delivering Toor's official ceremonial uniform left him unable to take part in the parade. Indian team officials quickly called up Sehrawat to step into the ceremonial role and march alongside Bhaker at the front of the contingent.
Competition got underway earlier in the day on the sporting fields, delivering mixed fortunes for the Indian camp. Teqball athlete Quimcy D'Souza endured a difficult semi-final defeat in the women's singles bracket, just missing an outright spot in the gold medal match. She will return to action tomorrow morning with an opportunity to secure bronze in the third-place playoff.
Key athletes from the Indian men's field hockey roster sat out the march, resting ahead of their tournament opener tomorrow morning. Former national goalkeeper PR Sreejesh pointed out during the live broadcast that demanding match schedules frequently force team-sport competitors to skip the opening spectacle. Tennis icon Sania Mirza echoed that view, noting that marching remains a deeply moving highlight for any athlete despite the taxing physical demands of standing for hours.
Organisers in Aichi and Nagoya faced sharp public scrutiny over logistical snags leading into today's festivities, yet the opening ceremony proceeded without disruption. While defending javelin champion Neeraj Chopra remains absent this year due to an ankle injury, the Indian camp stepped onto Japanese soil eager to improve upon their historic 107-medal tally from Hangzhou.
