The much-anticipated 2026 Asian Games are set to kick off on Saturday, September 19, in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. This year’s opening ceremony will see India’s flag proudly carried by double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who is the reigning champion in shot put from the last Asian Games.
The announcement of Bhaker and Toor as India’s flag-bearers was made just a day before the ceremony. Bhaker has already made waves in sports history, having become the first athlete from independent India to secure two medals in a single Olympics during the Paris 2024 Games.
Tajinderpal Singh Toor will join Bhaker in leading the Indian team, flying in from his training camp at the University of Tsukuba near Tokyo. Toor previously snatched gold medals in men’s shot put at both the Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.
India will send a team of 158 members to the opening ceremony, with approximately 500 athletes set to compete across 35 different sports during the Games. The country will be looking to surpass its impressive medal haul from the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, where Indian athletes brought home a total of 107 medals, including 28 gold.
This year’s Asian Games will see participants from 45 nations and regions, competing in 43 different sports. Japan is hosting this prestigious multi-sport event for the third time, with previous events held in Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.
Asian Games 2026 Opening Ceremony Details
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When: The opening ceremony will take place on Saturday, September 19, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM local time in Japan (JST), which translates to 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM IST.
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Where to Watch on TV in India: The ceremony will be broadcast live on Sony Sports 1 and Sony Sports 5, with regional-language coverage available on Sony Sports 3 in Hindi, and on Sony Sports 4 in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.
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Where to Stream Online: Fans can catch the live stream of the opening ceremony on SonyLIV via its app and website.
Key Facts About India’s Participation
- Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor will lead the Indian delegation as flag-bearers.
- Around 500 athletes from India will compete in various sports, with athletics featuring the largest representation of over 75 athletes.
- Notable athletes like PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, Manu Bhaker, Aman Sehrawat, and Lovlina Borgohain are part of the Indian contingent.
- In the previous Asian Games, India achieved a remarkable milestone, winning 107 medals overall, with 28 of those being gold. Athletics played a crucial role in this success, contributing 29 medals, including 6 golds, while shooting secured 22 medals, with 7 golds.
With the Games just around the corner, excitement is building as the world prepares for a showcase of sportsmanship and talent.
