New Delhi, September 19: Seasoned kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat has been named India's male flag-bearer for the Asian Games opening ceremony, replacing star shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor after a logistical issue prevented Toor from attending the event.
Sehrawat, 30, was part of India's gold-medal-winning men's kabaddi team at the previous Asian Games. Chef de mission Sahdev Yadav confirmed that the kabaddi player would now lead the Indian contingent alongside shooting star Manu Bhaker at the opening ceremony.
Toor explained that the absence of his ceremonial uniform created difficulties with the tight schedule. "I am told that my ceremonial kit will reach at 3 pm at the (Nagoya) airport. Reaching the opening ceremony venue after collecting
my (ceremonial) kit from the airport on time will be very difficult," he said, quoted by the PTI.
The athlete subsequently informed the Indian Olympic Association that he would not attend the ceremony.
India's athletics contingent is currently undergoing an acclimatisation camp at the University of Tsukuba near Tokyo. The team is scheduled to travel to Nagoya on September 21, shortly before the athletics events begin.
According to a team official, the athletes were not originally expected to participate in either the opening or closing ceremonies. "They will be leaving Nagoya on September 30, one day after the end of athletics competition and four days before the closing ceremony (on October 4)," the official said.
Toor also pointed out that the issue was not limited to him. "Nobody in the athletics team has ceremonial kits with them," he said.
While ceremonial clothing was unavailable to the athletics team, members of the 75-strong contingent confirmed that they had received their official competition kits.
Meanwhile, Sehrawat will be joined by pistol shooter Manu Bhaker. Bhaker's selection as the women's flag-bearer comes after her historic performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she became the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single Olympic Games.
