India’s para-athletes mark the start of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games at the opening ceremony held at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya on Sunday. Para-badminton player Pramod Bhagat and sprinter Simran Sharma carry the national flag as India’s flag-bearers, leading the country’s contingent during the procession into the stadium.
Several outlets also highlight the ceremonial outfits worn by Team India. More than 100 Indian athletes take part in the ceremony, and their blazers feature motifs drawn from India’s cultural heritage, including designs inspired by Indus Valley seals and references to the SaptSindhu concept, along with placement of the Indian Tricolour near the heart. The event ushers in the fifth edition of the Games, scheduled to run from October 18 to 24, 2026.
Coverage broadly agrees that the ceremony includes athletes from across Asia and that India is fielding a large team for the competition in Japan. While the differing outlets focus on either the flag-bearers or the symbolism of the blazers, both elements are presented as part of India’s presentation at the Games ahead of the week-long sporting programme.
