{
  "id": 8587282,
  "title": "Chosen as India’s Asian Games flagbearer, misses ceremony as kit was still in India",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/chosen-as-indias-asian-games-flagbearer-misses-ceremony-as-kit-was",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T01:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/chosen-as-indias-asian-games-flagbearer-misses-ceremony-as-kit-was-still-in-india-1.500680976"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indian shot put athlete Tajinderpal Singh Toor was chosen as the country's flagbearer for the Asian Games opening ceremony in Nagoya, Japan. However, he was unable to perform this honor as his ceremonial kit was not yet in Nagoya. The kit had been expected to arrive at the airport around 3 pm, but this would not have allowed him to make it to the ceremony in time. Toor only learned of his selection as flagbearer the day before the ceremony. His coach had already traveled to Japan and could not have brought the kit along. Toor's athletics team was training in Japan and was not expected to participate in the opening ceremony. India needed a replacement flagbearer, which led to Kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat taking over the role. Sehrawat had previously won gold in kabaddi at the previous Asian Games. Toor's focus now shifts to competing for a third consecutive shot put gold at the 2022 Asian Games.",
  "summary": "Imagine being told you will carry your country’s flag at the Asian Games opening ceremony, only to discover you cannot do it because your ceremonial kit has not arrived. That is exactly what happened to Indian shot put star Tajinderpal Singh Toor on Saturday, September 19, ahead of the Asian Games opening ceremony in Nagoya, Japan The two time Asian Games champion was originally chosen to lead…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Wushu exponent Mandy on target for Asian Games medal after bright start",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/wushu-exponent-mandy-on-target-for-asian-games-medal-after-bright",
        "published": "2026-09-20T02:53:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "First Asian Games gold goes to Japan as China's 13-year-old Yu lights up pool",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/first-asian-games-gold-goes-to-japan-as-chinas-13-year-old-yu-lights",
        "published": "2026-09-20T03:33:42.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}