{
  "id": 8392449,
  "title": "Kit blunder forces India to change Asian Games flagbearer",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/kit-blunder-forces-india-to-change-asian-games-flagbearer",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-19T05:36:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2026/09/1536026/kit-blunder-forces-india-change-asian-games-flagbearer"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nagoya, Japan - India has made a last-minute change to their flagbearer for the opening ceremony of the Asian Games, replacing Tajinderpal Singh Toor with kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat. The original choice, Tajinderpal, who is aiming for his third consecutive Asian Games gold in shot put, will not be able to attend the event due to not having received his official ceremonial kit. He told media reports that his kit will arrive at 3 pm at the airport, but reaching the ceremony venue on time will be very difficult.\n\nInstead, Pawan Sehrawat will take on the role of male flagbearer, while shooter Manu Bhaker, a two-time bronze medalist from the Paris Olympics, will be the female flagbearer. Tajinderpal's coach, who had reached Japan the previous day, was unable to collect the kit for him. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had informed Tajinderpal about his selection as flagbearer yesterday, but he stated that his coach could have picked it up for him. The IOA issued a statement explaining that Tajinderpal's exclusion from the ceremony is due to a technical issue.",
  "summary": "NAGOYA: India have replaced their male flagbearer in Saturday’s Asian Games opening ceremony in Nagoya, Japan, because the original choice, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, has not received his official ceremonial kit and cannot attend the event, media reports said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Asian Games medal near impossible for men's and women's badminton teams",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/asian-games-medal-near-impossible-for-mens-and-womens-badminton-teams",
        "published": "2026-09-19T03:51:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KBS World Radio",
        "title": "20th Asian Games Set to Kick Off in Japan for 16-Day Run",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/20th-asian-games-set-to-kick-off-in-japan-for-16-day-run",
        "published": "2026-09-19T03:56:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Games-Kit blunder forces India to change Asian Games flagbearer",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/games-kit-blunder-forces-india-to-change-asian-games-flagbearer",
        "published": "2026-09-19T04:01:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Badminton Asian Games draw: India men, women potentially face Japan in QF",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/badminton-asian-games-draw-india-men-women-potentially-face-japan-in",
        "published": "2026-09-19T04:17:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Olympic Council of Asia president says politics have already entered into the Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/olympic-council-of-asia-president-says-politics-have-already-entered",
        "published": "2026-09-19T07:03:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Asian Olympic chief urges politicians to stay out of sport at Nagoya Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/asian-olympic-chief-urges-politicians-to-stay-out-of-sport-at-nagoya",
        "published": "2026-09-19T07:30:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}