Tajinderpal Singh Toor replaced as Asian Games flag-bearer after kit delay, Pawan Sehrawat steps in

The Indian contingent has been forced into a late change to its flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony, with Tajinderpal Singh Toor replaced by kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat. Toor, who was chosen to lead the Indian contingent alongside Manu Bhaker, has not yet received his official kit and will therefore miss the gala event. The development has prompted a last-minute change, with Sehrawat now set to accompany Bhaker at the ceremony.

The 30-year-old Sehrawat was part of the Indian men’s kabaddi team that won the gold medal at the previous Asian Games and will now take Toor’s place as one of India’s flag-bearers. Chef-de-mission Sahdev Yadav confirmed the change to news agency PTI.

Toor’s absence comes as a late setback for the Indian contingent, which will be represented by Bhaker and Sehrawat during the opening ceremony as the Asian Games officially get underway in Aichi-Nagoya.

Toor explained that he was told his kit would arrive at Nagoya airport only at 3 pm, leaving him with little time to collect it and reach the opening ceremony venue. He said the delay meant he had informed the Indian Olympic Association that he would not be attending the ceremony, and that the athletics team had yet to receive its kits.

"I am told that my kit will reach at 3pm at the (Nagoya) airport. Reaching the opening ceremony venue after collecting my kit from airport on time will be very difficult. So, I have told IOA (Indian Olympic Association) that I am not coming for opening ceremony," Toor told PTI.

"My kit is lying in India. Nobody in the athletics team has got their kits so far," he revealed.

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Toor informed late about flag-bearer role

The athletics team has been training at the University of Tsukuba near Tokyo since September 13 as part of an acclimatisation camp and is scheduled to reach Nagoya on September 21, two days before the start of athletics events.

Toor also said the late confirmation of his role as flag-bearer left little time to sort out the kit issue. Had he been informed earlier, he felt his coach, who had already reached Japan, could have collected it on his behalf and avoided the last-minute complication.

"IOA told me yesterday about me becoming flag-bearer. Otherwise my coach who reached here yesterday could have picked it (the kit) up for me," he said.