India selects Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and shot put athlete Tajinderpal Singh Toor as its flag bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony.
Multiple outlets report the decision as an acknowledgement of both athletes’ recent and past performances. Bhaker is described as the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single Olympic Games, following her double-medal feat at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Several reports also note her medal haul at Paris, including two bronzes.
For Toor, reports highlight her experience and prior success in the Asian Games. The Hindu adds that Toor has won gold in the last two Asian Games, underscoring her credentials. Overall coverage focuses on the symbolic role of the flag bearers while drawing on their achievements at the Olympics and prior Asian Games.
