# Bhaker, Sehrawat carry Indian flag at Asian Games opening

2026-09-19T15:51:37+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 4 independent outlets

Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat carried the Indian flag at the Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony in Nagoya on Saturday. Sehrawat replaced shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who was ruled out due to technical issues related to his ceremonial kit. The kabaddi star said he did not sleep the night before after learning of the honour. Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist, recalled her late coach Jaspal Rana after the ceremony. Rana, who died in June at 49, had a strict rule: Bhaker could attend an opening ceremony only if she was the flagbearer, otherwise she had to watch on television to conserve energy for competitions that often start the next day. "Missed Jaspal sir a lot today," Bhaker said. She competes in three pistol events starting Sunday.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

All six sources present the same factual narrative: Bhaker missed her late coach Jaspal Rana after carrying the flag, and Sehrawat replaced Toor. No outlet disputes any detail, and none adds political or institutional commentary. The uniformity suggests the Indian Olympic Association's messaging and the PTI wire shaped coverage. Bhaker's three pistol events starting Sunday will test whether the emotional opening ceremony affects her performance or, as Rana would have wanted, her focus remains on the range.

## Coverage

- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/asian-games-2026/asian-games-2026-i-did-not-sleep-last-night-pawan-sehrawat-on-carrying-indias-flag-at-opening-ceremony/articleshow/134351142.cms>
  Leads with Bhaker's emotional quote, reports Rana's condition factually
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/asian-games-2026/either-a-flagbearer-or-i-watch-it-on-television-manu-bhaker-remembers-jaspal-rana-ahead-of-asian-games-opening-ceremony/articleshow/134350834.cms>
  Leads with Bhaker's emotional quote, reports Rana's condition factually
- deccanherald.com (neutral report) <https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/missed-jaspal-sir-a-lot-manu-bhaker-after-emotional-asian-games-opening-ceremony-4152054>
  Very short PTI wire, purely Bhaker's post-ceremony quote
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/asian-games-2026/missed-jaspal-rana-sir-a-lot-manu-bhaker-gets-emotional-after-asian-games-opening-ceremony/articleshow/134355104.cms>
  Leads with Bhaker's emotional quote, reports Rana's condition factually
- english.mathrubhumi.com (neutral report) <https://english.mathrubhumi.com/sports/news/indeed-an-emotional-day-without-him-by-my-side-manu-bhaker-remembers-her-late-coach-jaspal-rana-jlsjrxkc>
  PTI wire story, chronological lead with Bhaker's emotion, no slant
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/others/missed-jaspal-sir-a-lot-today-manu-bhaker-gets-emotional-after-carrying-india-s-flag-at-asian-games-opening-ceremony-101789830186444.html>
  Leads with ceremony spectacle and Bhaker's emotion, factual on Rana's rule

Tags: Asian Games 2026, India, Jaspal Rana, Manu Bhaker, Pawan Sehrawat
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