New Delhi: Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and shot put star Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been named India’s flag bearers for the opening ceremony of the Asian Games, scheduled to be held on Saturday.
The ceremony will take place at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm IST. More than 500 Indian athletes are expected to compete across 37 sports at the continental event, which will conclude on October 4.
Bhaker enters the Games as one of India’s leading shooting stars. At the Paris Olympics, she created history by becoming the first Indian athlete in the post independence era to win two medals at a single edition of the Games. She claimed bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol and the 10m air pistol mixed team event.
She was also part of India’s gold medal winning women’s 25m pistol team at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Toor brings significant continental experience to the opening ceremony. The shot putter is a two time defending Asian Games champion and will be aiming to continue his dominance in the event.
The Asian Games, organised by the Olympic Council of Asia, feature athletes from 45 countries and regions competing across 43 sports. Aichi-Nagoya marks the third time Japan has hosted the continental event, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.
India will aim to improve on its record performance at Hangzhou 2023, where the country won 107 medals, including 28 gold.
India will defend its titles in men’s and women’s cricket and kabaddi, while the men’s hockey team will also enter the competition as defending champions.
PV Sindhu will lead the badminton campaign, while Mirabai Chanu will spearhead the weightlifting contingent. Wrestling, boxing and shooting will also feature several prominent Indian competitors.
The athletics contingent includes more than 75 Indian athletes, with Gulveer Singh, Tejaswin Shankar, Murali Sreeshankar, Jyothi Yarraji and Parul Chaudhary among the leading names. Olympic qualification opportunities will also be available in disciplines including archery, sailing, squash, surfing and tennis.
