Double Olympic Medallist Manu Bhaker to Lead India Out at Asian Games Opening Ceremony

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.