Indian Athletes Shine at the 2026 Asian Games Opening Ceremony

Celebrating the 20th Asian Games

On Saturday, the 2026 Asian Games officially commenced in Aichi-Nagoya, with kabaddi champion Pawan Sehrawat and Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker leading the Indian delegation during the opening ceremony held at Paloma Mizuho Stadium. India is represented by a strong contingent of 503 athletes competing in 36 different sports.

Manu Bhaker's Historic Achievement

Manu Bhaker, who earned two bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is set to participate in multiple shooting events, including the women's 10m air pistol and the 25m pistol, as well as the mixed team event. She made history by becoming the first athlete from independent India to secure two medals in a single Olympic Games. Reflecting on her selection as a flag-bearer, Bhaker expressed her heartfelt emotions, recalling her journey in the sport. "When I learned about this honor, I was flooded with memories from my early days. I never imagined I would reach this point in my career. It’s a truly heartwarming experience, and I feel incredibly proud and grateful for the support I’ve received," she shared in a video message.

Pawan Sehrawat Takes the Lead

Pawan Sehrawat, who has taken over the role of male flag-bearer from shot put athlete Tajinderpal Singh Toor due to unforeseen circumstances, aims to guide India to another gold medal in men's kabaddi. Since the sport's introduction in the men's team category at the 1990 Asian Games, India has claimed gold in eight out of nine tournaments, with a bronze finish in 2018. In the previous edition held in Hangzhou in 2022, India triumphed over Iran with a score of 33-29 to secure the gold medal.

India's Ambitious Medal Goals

India is determined to surpass its previous performance at the 2022 Asian Games, where the nation achieved a historic total of 107 medals, comprising 28 gold, 38 silver, and 41 bronze.