Two celebrated names from Indian sport will lead the country’s 503-member contingent into the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and two-time defending Asian Games shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been named India’s flag-bearers for the opening ceremony on Saturday.

Their selection brings together two athletes from different generations, each carrying an impressive record of achievement on the international stage. India’s Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav confirmed Bhaker’s selection, while the Athletics Federation of India announced Toor as the second flag-bearer.

Manu Bhaker’s Olympic Milestone

At just 24, Bhaker already has a landmark place in Indian sporting history. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, the shooter became the first athlete from independent India to win two medals in a single edition of the Games.

She secured bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol before teaming up with Sarabjot Singh to win another bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol event. Her performances made her one of India’s standout athletes in Paris and further established her as one of the country’s leading shooting stars.

Toor’s Asian Games Legacy

Alongside Bhaker will be a champion with his own remarkable Asian Games record. Shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor has won the men’s shot put gold medal at the last two editions of the Games. He triumphed at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and successfully defended his title at Hangzhou 2023.

The 31-year-old will now look to extend that impressive run in Aichi-Nagoya while also leading a strong Indian athletics contingent. His experience and past success add another layer of significance to his role as flag-bearer.

A New Asian Games Chapter

The opening ceremony will take place on September 19 at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, officially marking the beginning of the 20th Asian Games. The Games will run until October 4, bringing together athletes from 45 countries and regions across 43 sports and 469 medal events.

India enters the competition after a record-setting campaign at Hangzhou 2023, where the country won 107 medals. As the Indian contingent steps into the stadium, Bhaker and Toor will lead the way—one representing a new generation of Olympic success, the other carrying the experience of repeated Asian Games glory. Together, they will carry more than the flag. They will carry the hopes of a nation.