Nagoya, September 2026 : Kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat will lead India’s contingent at the opening ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Saturday, replacing shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who has been ruled out of the role due to technical issues.
Sehrawat will carry the Indian flag alongside double Olympic medallist and shooter Manu Bhaker at the ceremony, scheduled to be held at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Aichi-Nagoya on Saturday evening.
“Due to technical issues, Tajinderpal Singh Toor will be unable to serve as India’s flag-bearer. Pawan Sehrawat will instead lead the Indian contingent at the opening ceremony on Saturday evening,” an Indian Olympic Association (IOA) official said.
The change comes as India’s athletics contingent continues its preparations for the Games. The track and field athletes have been stationed at the University of Tsukuba near Tokyo since September 13, where they have been undergoing an acclimatisation camp.
The athletics contingent is scheduled to travel to Nagoya on Monday, with competition in the track and field events set to begin two days after their arrival.
For Sehrawat, being named flag-bearer adds another significant achievement to an already successful international career. The kabaddi player was part of the Indian team that won the gold medal at the previous Asian Games and also captained the side during its title-winning campaign.
At the Aichi-Nagoya Games, Sehrawat will serve in a supporting leadership role, with Sunil Kumar taking over as captain of the Indian men’s kabaddi team.
Sehrawat has also guided India to victory at the 2023 Asian Kabaddi Championship, further establishing his credentials at the international level. His contribution to Indian kabaddi was recognised with the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2023.
The Indian men’s kabaddi team will enter the competition seeking to maintain the country’s strong record in the sport at the Asian Games. Sehrawat is expected to play a key role on the mat while also contributing to the team’s leadership group.
His appointment as flag-bearer also brings together two prominent figures from Indian sport at the opening ceremony, with Sehrawat representing the country’s success in kabaddi and Bhaker carrying the distinction of being a double Olympic medallist.
The opening ceremony will officially mark the beginning of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, bringing together athletes and officials from across the continent for the first major ceremonial event of the competition.
The Paloma Mizuho Stadium will host the curtain-raiser, with India’s contingent set to be led by Sehrawat and Bhaker following the last-minute change involving Toor.
As the Games get underway, India will look to build on its performances at previous editions across multiple disciplines, with athletes competing for medals in sports ranging from athletics and shooting to kabaddi and several other events.
