Manu Bhaker recalls Asian Games debut as she carries India’s flag

Manu Bhaker, carrying India’s flag at the Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony, reflected on her journey from first competing at the 2018 Asian Games as a teenager.

The double Olympic medallist will compete in the women’s 10m air pistol, the women’s 25m pistol and the mixed team 10m air pistol.

Kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat was the male flag bearer.

The ceremony was held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on September 19.

India’s contingent has 503 athletes across 36 sports.

Pawan Sehrawat received word of the flag-bearing honour at short notice.

Sehrawat was part of India’s gold-winning kabaddi team at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.

Bhaker first competed at the Asian Games as a teenager in 2018 and has spoken about how far she has come since then.

She will compete in the women’s 10m air pistol, the women’s 25m pistol and the mixed team 10m air pistol events.

Teqball player Quimcy Dsouza lost her semifinal on September 19 and plays bronze medal matches on September 20.

On September 20, the Indian women’s cricket team plays Bangladesh in a semifinal, and hockey, badminton, shooting and table tennis fixtures are also scheduled.

Some sports, including women’s cricket, began before the official opening on September 19.

India won gold in women’s cricket at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and is defending the title in Japan.

The opening ceremony was held at the Mizuho stadium in Aichi-Nagoya, one of the main venues of the multi-sport event.

The Asian Games 2026 opened on Saturday, September 19, at a ceremony in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, marking the 20th edition of the Games.

India’s contingent for the Games has 503 athletes competing across 36 sports.

Manu Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist in shooting, and kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat carried the Indian flag at the Parade of Nations.

Shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, a two-time defending Asian Games champion, had been named a flag bearer but was replaced because of an issue with his official ceremonial kit.

Paloma Mizuho stadium, Nagoya, Japan (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC0