India have replaced their male flagbearer for Saturday’s Asian Games opening ceremony in Nagoya, Japan, after shot put athlete Tajinderpal Singh Toor was unable to attend because he had not received his official ceremonial kit, according to media reports.
Toor, who is seeking a third consecutive Asian Games gold medal in the men’s shot put, will be replaced by kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat.
Shooter Manu Bhaker, a two-time bronze medallist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, will serve as India’s female flagbearer.
Toor says kit delay made attendance difficult
Toor said his ceremonial kit was expected to arrive at the airport at around 3pm, leaving him little time to collect it and reach the opening ceremony venue.
“I’m told that my kit will reach at 3pm at the airport. Reaching the opening ceremony venue after collecting my kit from the airport on time will be very difficult,” news agency PTI quoted Toor as saying.
He said he had informed the Indian Olympic Association that he would not attend the ceremony.
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“My kit is lying in India,” Toor said, adding that the IOA had informed him only a day earlier that he had been selected as flagbearer.
He said his coach, who had already arrived in Japan, could have collected the kit if they had known about the flagbearer decision earlier.
IOA cites technical issue
The Indian Olympic Association said in a statement that the 31-year-old athlete would be unable to serve as India’s male flagbearer because of a “technical issue.”
Sehrawat will therefore carry the Indian flag alongside Bhaker during the opening ceremony.
Toor remains one of India’s leading athletes at the Asian Games. He won gold medals in the men’s shot put at the 2018 Jakarta and 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and will now focus on his bid for a third consecutive title in Nagoya.
