Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Kit Delay Replaces Tajinderpal Toor As India's Flag-Bearer
Tajinderpal Singh Toor was supposed to carry India's flag at the Asian Games opening ceremony.
He could not attend because his official team clothing had not arrived.
The kit was expected to reach Nagoya airport shortly before the ceremony.
Toor said there would not be enough time to collect it and get to the venue.
He also said he was told about his flag-bearer role only on Friday.
Because of this, kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat replaced him.
Sehrawat was part of India's gold-winning men's kabaddi team at the previous Asian Games.
Sehrawat will share the flag-bearing role with shooter Manu Bhaker.
Kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat will lead India at the Asian Games opening ceremony.
Sehrawat replaces shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, whose official kit had not arrived.
Toor said his kit was expected at Nagoya airport at 3 p.m.
Toor said collecting the kit and reaching the ceremony venue on time would be difficult.
India's athletics team is training near Tokyo and is scheduled to reach Nagoya on September 21.
- Who
- Pawan Sehrawat replaced Tajinderpal Singh Toor as India's flag-bearer; Manu Bhaker is the other named flag-bearer.
- What
- Toor withdrew from the Asian Games opening ceremony because his official kit had not arrived.
- When
- The change was reported on Saturday; the athletics team was scheduled to reach Nagoya on September 21.
- Where
- The opening ceremony is in Nagoya, while the athletics team is training at the University of Tsukuba near Tokyo.
- Why
- Toor said the delayed kit and late notification about his role made attending the ceremony impractical.
Toor's Perspective
Team Arrangements
Reason for the change
Toor's Perspective
Toor said the kit delay and late notice about his flag-bearer role prevented him from attending the ceremony.
Team Arrangements
India's officials selected Pawan Sehrawat to replace Toor after the kit problem made Toor's attendance difficult.
How the delay might have been avoided
Toor's Perspective
Toor said that earlier communication would have allowed his coach to collect the kit on his behalf.
Team Arrangements
The reported arrangement was for Toor's kit to arrive at Nagoya airport, but collecting it and reaching the venue on time was considered impractical.
- Replacement flag-bearer
- Pawan Sehrawat
- Original flag-bearer
- Tajinderpal Singh Toor
- Other flag-bearer
- Manu Bhaker
- Reported kit arrival
- 3 p.m. at Nagoya airport
- Athletics camp
- University of Tsukuba near Tokyo
- Scheduled Nagoya arrival
- September 21
- Athletics events
- Scheduled to begin two days after the team's arrival in Nagoya
