Pawan Sehrawat Takes Over as Flag-Bearer for Asian Games Opening Ceremony

In a significant change for the Asian Games opening ceremony, kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat has been appointed as the male flag-bearer, replacing shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor due to technical issues. Meanwhile, Manu Bhaker will continue as the women's flag-bearer. As Sehrawat aims for kabaddi gold, Toor seeks his third consecutive gold in shot put. Additionally, Quimcy Dsouza is set to compete for a bronze medal in Teqball. Read on for more details about these athletes and their upcoming challenges.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 19, 2026, 08:43 IST

Pawan Sehrawat Steps in as Flag-Bearer

In a recent announcement, Indian shot put athlete Tajinderpal Singh Toor has been replaced by kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat as the male flag-bearer for the upcoming Asian Games opening ceremony. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) stated that due to technical difficulties, Tajinder, a two-time Asian Games champion, will no longer fulfill this role. Instead, Pawan, who is a gold medalist from the Asian Games 2022 and a prominent figure in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), will take on this honor.

Manu Bhaker Retains Women's Flag-Bearer Role

Manu Bhaker, an Asian Games gold medalist and double Olympic medalist, will continue as the women's flag-bearer for the Indian team. Initially, both Manu and Tajinderpal were designated as flag-bearers. Bhaker, who secured two bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is set to compete in the women’s 10m air pistol, women’s 25m pistol, and the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team events. She made history in Paris by becoming the first athlete from independent India to win two medals in a single Olympic edition.

Sehrawat's Ambition for Kabaddi Gold

As the new male flag-bearer, Pawan Sehrawat is focused on leading 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 the exception of a bronze finish in 2018. In the last edition of the Asian Games held in Hangzhou in 2022, India triumphed over Iran with a score of 33-29 to secure the gold.

Toor Aims for Third Gold Medal

Tajinderpal Singh Toor is looking to achieve his third consecutive gold medal in men’s shot put. He previously won gold at the 2018 Jakarta Games and again at the 2023 Hangzhou edition, where he recorded an impressive throw of 20.36 meters.

Teqball: Quimcy Dsouza Competes for Bronze

In another event, Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza represented India in the Women’s Singles semifinal of Teqball against Indonesia’s Sumaya. After a hard-fought match, Quimcy lost 1–2. She won the first set 12–7, but Sumaya came back to win the second set 12–9 and clinched the third set 12–7. Quimcy will now vie for the Bronze Medal against Japan's Yuina Sakamota on September 20.