Kabaddi star Sehrawat to lead India at Asiad 2026 opening ceremony

Seasoned kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat has stepped in to replace shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor as India's flag-bearer for the Asian Games opening ceremony in Nagoya on Saturday. Toor, a celebrated athlete in his discipline, withdrew from the ceremony after his official kit failed to arrive on schedule, making it logistically impossible for him to attend the gala event.

Sehrawat, the 30-year-old veteran of India's gold-winning men's kabaddi team at the previous Asian Games, will now share flag-bearing duties with shooting ace Manu Bhaker at the opening ceremony. Chef-de-mission Sahdev Yadav confirmed the last-minute change to the flagbearer arrangement.

Toor explained that his competition kit was still in India and had not been delivered to the Japanese venue. "I was told my kit would reach at 3pm at the Nagoya airport, but reaching the opening ceremony venue after collecting it from the airport on time would be very difficult," Toor told media. He added that none of the athletics team members had received their kits so far.

The Indian Olympic Association accepted Toor's request to withdraw from the opening ceremony duties, allowing the athlete to focus on his competition schedule at the Games without the added pressure of travel logistics. Sehrawat's appointment ensures that India's contingent will be properly represented at the ceremonial opening of the continental sporting event.