Opening Ceremony Live: Aichi-Nagoya welcomes India

Asian Games 2026Asian Games 2026 Opening Ceremony Live Updates: India is ready for the Aichi-Nagoya spectacle as the 2026 Asian Games officially get underway. Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat will lead the Indian contingent after a last-minute change saw Tajinderpal Singh Toor replaced as flag-bearer....Read MoreAsian Games 2026 Opening Ceremony Live Updates. (Photo: Reuters, Instagra/pawampawan_sehrawat) Hi and welcome to India Today's live coverage of the Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony in Nagoya, Japan. Sep 19, 2026 14:01 ISTAsian Games 2026: Nagoya’s rocky build-up under fireThe athletes are ready, but Nagoya’s build-up has been anything but smooth. The decision to go without a traditional Games Village has meant athletes and officials are spread across hotels and other accommodation, creating logistical headaches and some unhappy moments. For India, the build-up has included accommodation concerns, athletes facing difficulties getting around and uncertainty over arrangements. The traditional flag-hoisting ceremony was also delayed on Friday, leaving India and four other contingents waiting for clarity from the organisers. Then came the weather headache, with the threat of Typhoon Peipah forcing organisers to prepare evacuation plans for athletes staying on the Costa Serena cruise ship. None of this is quite the smooth run-up you would expect before a continental sporting spectacle, but with the ceremony finally upon us, Nagoya gets its chance to reset the mood. Sep 19, 2026 13:53 ISTAsian Games 2026: India has already hit the ground runningThe opening ceremony may be minutes away, but India have been busy already! The women’s cricket team stormed into the semi-finals after brushing aside Japan, while teqball has given us a proper storyline with Quimcy Dsouza now fighting for two bronze medals. There has been some heartbreak too. India’s men’s soft tennis campaign ended in the quarter-finals, while Dsouza fell short in the singles semi-final this morning. Still, she has two more shots at a podium finish on Sunday, including alongside Mohamed Anas Imran Beg in mixed doubles. The women's cricket team and Quimcy Dsouza are already in the medal hunt. (Photo: BCCI Women/ Instagram/quimcyy) Sep 19, 2026 13:43 ISTAsian Games Live: A flag-bearer twist for IndiaA little twist before the big march! Manu Bhaker will still lead India into the opening ceremony, but Tajinderpal Singh Toor has been replaced by kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat as the male flag-bearer after a delay in receiving his ceremonial kit. Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist, gets her moment at her third Asian Games, while Sehrawat arrives as part of India’s gold-winning kabaddi team from Hangzhou. Toor, meanwhile, will turn his focus to defending his Asian Games shot-put crown when athletics gets underway. Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat will lead India at Asian Games 2026. (Photo: PTI) Sep 19, 2026 13:40 ISTAsian Games 2026 Opening Ceremony: Let the Games begin!Good afternoon, folks! The wait is almost over as Nagoya gets ready to turn on the Asian Games magic. The 20th edition of the continental showpiece is set to run for 16 action-packed days, with athletes from across Asia chasing medals, making memories and, hopefully, a little history. The sporting action has already begun, but today is about the big stage, the flags, the athletes and the celebrations. India’s contingent is ready to march into the spotlight, so settle in and join us for all the action from the opening ceremony!