Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and defending shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor will lead Indiaโs 503โmember contingent as flagโbearers at the 2026 Asian Games.
Double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker and defending shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor will lead India’s delegation as the designated flag-bearers at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
India has fielded a 503-athlete contingent across 36 sporting disciplines, with 246 coaches and officials supporting them at the quadrennial sporting event.
Driven by the past success in Hangzhou, where India finished fourth in the medal standingsย with 107 medals, including 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze, the contingent will aim to improve the tally in 2026.
Bhaker and Toor are among India’s top medal hopes, alongside PV Sindhu, Lovlina Borgohain, Avinash Sable, Mirabai Chanu, and the Indian men’s and women’s cricket and hockey teams.
Bhaker, Toor named India’s flagbearers
Shooting ace Bhaker was initially announced as India’s flag-bearer by the country’s chef-de-mission Sahdev Yadav. The Athletics Federation of India eventually confirmed that Toor will be the second flag-bearer.
“Manu Bhaker will be one of the flag-bearers,” Yadav revealed.
Bhaker and Toor have been assigned a crucial role of leading the Indian contingent during the opening ceremony, scheduled for Saturday.
Bhaker & Toor among India’s biggest medal hopes
Bhaker made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics, having won two bronze medals, becoming the first Indian female athlete to do so in a single edition of the quadrennial event. She won bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol before bagging another bronze after teaming up with Sarabjot Singh in the mixed team 10m air pistol event.
More from SportsThe Indian shooter’s historic medal wins helped her achieve instant stardom, becoming one of the most popular sporting personalities and the country’s biggest hopes for a medal win in shooting.
Toor, meanwhile, has secured gold in the past two editions (Jakarta in 2018 and Hangzhou in 2023) of the Asian Games. The 31-year-old Indian shot putter has a chance to clinch a historic three-peat in the competition.
India’s campaign at the 2026 Asian Games has already begun in multiple disciplines, but the ceremony will take place on September 19, 2026.