Just hours before India was set to march into the Asian Games opening ceremony, the country’s flag-bearing plans took an unexpected turn.

Shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who was scheduled to lead the Indian contingent alongside shooting star Manu Bhaker, will miss the ceremony after not receiving his official ceremonial kit in time. The Indian Olympic Association confirmed the last-minute change, announcing that Pawan Sehrawat would take over as India’s male flag-bearer.

According to PTI, Toor was informed that his kit would arrive at Nagoya airport only around 3 pm. Collecting it and reaching the opening ceremony venue in time would have been difficult. Toor had stated that his kit was lying in India and nobody in the athletics team got their kits till then.

Pawan Sehrawat Takes Centre Stage

The sudden responsibility now falls on one of Indian kabaddi’s biggest stars. Known as the “Hi-Flyer”, Pawan Sehrawat is celebrated for his explosive raids and trademark ability to leap away from defenders. He was part of India’s gold-medal-winning kabaddi team at the 2022 Asian Games and also captained the side that won gold at the 2023 Asian Championships.

His achievements have earned him one of Indian sport’s biggest honours too — the Arjuna Award in 2023. Now, he will carry the Indian flag into the opening ceremony alongside Manu Bhaker, adding another memorable chapter to his sporting journey.

Toor’s Focus Remains on the Field

While Toor will miss the ceremony, his Asian Games campaign remains unaffected. The two-time Asian Games champion is one of India’s leading medal hopes in athletics, particularly after Neeraj Chopra withdrew from the Games due to injury.

The Indian Express reports that the Indian athletics contingent have been training at the University of Tsukuba near Tokyo since September 13 as part of their acclimatisation camp. The team is scheduled to travel to Nagoya on September 21, two days before athletics events begin. 

The Games Begin

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games officially open on September 19, with the opening ceremony taking place in Nagoya. The Games will run until October 4 and feature 43 sports, alongside newer disciplines including freestyle BMX, mixed martial arts, paddle surfing, teqball and virtual taekwondo.

For India, the ceremony will now have a different face at the front of the contingent. Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat will carry the tricolour, while Toor prepares for the moment that matters most to him — stepping into the competition arena and chasing another Asian Games gold.