Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor to Lead India at Asian Games 2026

India's double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker and shot-put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been named flagbearers for the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. With over 500 athletes representing India across 37 sports, the event promises to showcase the nation's sporting prowess. Bhaker aims to add to her Olympic success, while Toor seeks his third consecutive gold in shot put. The Asian Games will run from September 19 to October 4, with India looking to build on its previous medal achievements. Read on to learn more about the athletes and the events ahead.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 19, 2026, 00:18 IST

Flagbearers for Asian Games 2026 Announced

New Delhi, September 18: Double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker and shot-put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been selected as India's flagbearers for the opening ceremony of the Asian Games 2026, set to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Saturday.

The announcement was made via Team India's official account on X, stating, “Introducing our flag bearers for the Opening Ceremony of the Asian Games 2026 – @realmanubhaker and @Tajinder_Singh3. Let’s #Cheer4Bharat as #TeamIndia prepares to compete.”

Bhaker, who secured two bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, will participate 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 Games.

Toor is aiming for his third consecutive gold medal in men's shot put, having previously won at the 2018 Jakarta Games and the 2023 Hangzhou edition, where he achieved a throw of 20.36 meters.

The 20th Asian Games will take place from September 19 to October 4, featuring over 500 Indian athletes competing in 37 sports.

India's chef de mission, Sahdev Yadav, confirmed Bhaker's role, while the Athletics Federation of India later announced Toor as the second flagbearer.

Athletes from 45 countries will compete in 43 sports and 469 medal events during this edition of the Asian Games. Japan is hosting the event for the third time, having previously held it in Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.

India finished fourth in the medal standings at the Hangzhou Games, with a total of 107 medals, including 28 golds, and aims to continue this success in Japan.

The Indian team will include five individual Olympic medalists, despite the absence of defending javelin champion Neeraj Chopra due to an ankle injury. PV Sindhu will lead the badminton team, while Mirabai Chanu will head the weightlifting squad.

In shooting, Manu Bhaker will compete, while Lovlina Borgohain will represent India in boxing, and Aman Sehrawat will participate in wrestling.

India's boxers are arriving after a record-breaking Commonwealth Games, where they won 10 medals, including seven golds.

Athletics is expected to play a significant role in India's campaign, with over 70 track and field athletes participating. Notable names include Gulveer Singh, Tejaswin Shankar, and Olympian Sarvesh Kushare, while Tajinderpal Singh Toor aims to maintain his shot put dominance after winning in the last two editions.

India will also strive to defend its titles in men's and women's cricket and kabaddi, as well as the men's hockey championship.

In men's cricket, Shreyas Iyer will lead the defense of the T20 title, with teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi included in the squad. The women's team, also defending champions, will be captained by T20 leader Harmanpreet Kaur.

Hockey holds additional importance, as both men's and women's tournaments will serve as qualification events for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The winners will secure direct qualification for the Olympics.

India will also have chances to earn quota places for LA 2028 in archery, sailing, squash, surfing, and tennis.