Key Highlights:
- Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor will be India's flag-bearers at the Asian Games opening ceremony on Saturday in Nagoya.
- Over 500 Indian athletes will compete across 37 sports at the 20th edition of the Games, running until October 4.
- Manu Bhaker made history in Paris as the first post-independence Indian Olympic athlete to win two medals in a single edition.
- India aims to surpass its Hangzhou 2023 haul of 107 medals, including 28 gold.
- PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, Aman Sehrawat and Lovlina Borgohain lead India's charge across badminton, weightlifting, wrestling and boxing.
Two Decorated Athletes to Lead India's Contingent
Double Olympic medallist pistol shooter Manu Bhaker and shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been named as India's flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, giving the country's contingent two of its most accomplished current athletes to carry the flag into the Games.
Details of the Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony will take place at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium between 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm IST. Over 500 Indian athletes are set to compete across 37 sports at the 20th edition of the Asian Games, which will conclude on October 4, marking one of the country's largest multi-sport international delegations.
Manu Bhaker's Historic Achievement
Manu created history by becoming the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympic Games, achieving this feat in Paris where she bagged bronze medals in the 10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team events. She was also part of the gold-medal-winning 25m pistol women's team at the Hangzhou edition of the continental games, giving her a strong track record specifically within the Asian Games as well as at the Olympic level.
Tajinderpal Toor's Defending Champion Status
Meanwhile, Toor enters this edition of the Games as a two-time defending champion in shot put at the Asian Games, a distinction that adds significant weight to his selection as flag-bearer alongside Bhaker.
About the Asian Games
The Asian Games are the biggest sports competition in Asia, held once every four years and organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). The upcoming edition will feature 45 countries and regions competing across 43 sports. This marks the 20th edition of the Games overall, and the third time the continental showpiece has been hosted by Japan, following earlier editions in Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.
India's Ambitious Target
India heads into this edition of the Games looking to surpass its record-breaking campaign at Hangzhou 2023, where the country won 107 medals, including 28 gold, a benchmark that sets a high bar for the current contingent to match or exceed.
Defending Titles Across Team Sports
India arrive as defending champions in both men's and women's cricket and kabaddi, while the men's hockey team also enters the Games as the reigning champion, giving the Indian contingent multiple team events where they will be looking to defend rather than chase titles.
Key Individual Athletes to Watch
PV Sindhu will spearhead India's badminton campaign, while Mirabai Chanu will lead the weightlifting contingent. Manu Bhaker will be among the country's leading names in shooting, with Aman Sehrawat taking the mat in wrestling. Lovlina Borgohain, meanwhile, will look to make her mark in boxing, giving India strong individual medal contenders across several disciplines beyond the team sports where the country holds defending champion status.
A Strong Athletics Contingent
Athletics will feature over 75 Indian track and field athletes, with Gulveer Singh, Tejaswin Shankar, Murali Sreeshankar, Jyothi Yarraji and Parul Chaudhary among India's leading medal prospects in the discipline. Tajinderpal Singh Toor heads into the Aichi-Nagoya Games as a two-time defending champion in shot put, reinforcing his status as one of the contingent's most reliable medal bets heading into the competition.
Additional Opportunities Across Other Disciplines
Beyond the marquee events, Olympic quotas are also available in archery, sailing, squash, surfing and tennis, meaning that India's performance across these disciplines at the Asian Games could carry implications extending beyond this competition alone, potentially influencing qualification pathways for future Olympic Games as well.
Key Highlights:
- Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor will be India's flag-bearers at the Asian Games opening ceremony on Saturday in Nagoya.
- Over 500 Indian athletes will compete across 37 sports at the 20th edition of the Games, running until October 4.
- Manu Bhaker made history in Paris as the first post-independence Indian Olympic athlete to win two medals in a single edition.
- India aims to surpass its Hangzhou 2023 haul of 107 medals, including 28 gold.
- PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, Aman Sehrawat and Lovlina Borgohain lead India's charge across badminton, weightlifting, wrestling and boxing.
Two Decorated Athletes to Lead India's Contingent
Double Olympic medallist pistol shooter Manu Bhaker and shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been named as India's flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, giving the country's contingent two of its most accomplished current athletes to carry the flag into the Games.
Details of the Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony will take place at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium between 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm IST. Over 500 Indian athletes are set to compete across 37 sports at the 20th edition of the Asian Games, which will conclude on October 4, marking one of the country's largest multi-sport international delegations.
Manu Bhaker's Historic Achievement
Manu created history by becoming the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympic Games, achieving this feat in Paris where she bagged bronze medals in the 10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team events. She was also part of the gold-medal-winning 25m pistol women's team at the Hangzhou edition of the continental games, giving her a strong track record specifically within the Asian Games as well as at the Olympic level.
Tajinderpal Toor's Defending Champion Status
Meanwhile, Toor enters this edition of the Games as a two-time defending champion in shot put at the Asian Games, a distinction that adds significant weight to his selection as flag-bearer alongside Bhaker.
About the Asian Games
The Asian Games are the biggest sports competition in Asia, held once every four years and organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). The upcoming edition will feature 45 countries and regions competing across 43 sports. This marks the 20th edition of the Games overall, and the third time the continental showpiece has been hosted by Japan, following earlier editions in Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.
India's Ambitious Target
India heads into this edition of the Games looking to surpass its record-breaking campaign at Hangzhou 2023, where the country won 107 medals, including 28 gold, a benchmark that sets a high bar for the current contingent to match or exceed.
Defending Titles Across Team Sports
India arrive as defending champions in both men's and women's cricket and kabaddi, while the men's hockey team also enters the Games as the reigning champion, giving the Indian contingent multiple team events where they will be looking to defend rather than chase titles.
Key Individual Athletes to Watch
PV Sindhu will spearhead India's badminton campaign, while Mirabai Chanu will lead the weightlifting contingent. Manu Bhaker will be among the country's leading names in shooting, with Aman Sehrawat taking the mat in wrestling. Lovlina Borgohain, meanwhile, will look to make her mark in boxing, giving India strong individual medal contenders across several disciplines beyond the team sports where the country holds defending champion status.
A Strong Athletics Contingent
Athletics will feature over 75 Indian track and field athletes, with Gulveer Singh, Tejaswin Shankar, Murali Sreeshankar, Jyothi Yarraji and Parul Chaudhary among India's leading medal prospects in the discipline. Tajinderpal Singh Toor heads into the Aichi-Nagoya Games as a two-time defending champion in shot put, reinforcing his status as one of the contingent's most reliable medal bets heading into the competition.
Additional Opportunities Across Other Disciplines
Beyond the marquee events, Olympic quotas are also available in archery, sailing, squash, surfing and tennis, meaning that India's performance across these disciplines at the Asian Games could carry implications extending beyond this competition alone, potentially influencing qualification pathways for future Olympic Games as well.