Kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat has replaced Tajinderpal Singh Toor as flag-bearer for the Asian Games opening ceremony. The development comes after the celebrated shot-putter did not receive his official kit, preventing him from attending the gala event.
Toor was set to be the flag-bearer of India alongside shooting ace Manu Bhakar during the opening ceremony; however, Sehrawat, who was part of the gold medal-winning squad of the Kabaddi team in the previous Asiad, will asked to step in after the unfortunate delay.
Toor revealed that the athletics contingent is yet to receive their kits, and he has informed the IOA that he won’t be able to attend the opening ceremony.
“I am told that my kit will reach at 3pm at the (Nagoya) airport. Reaching the opening ceremony venue after collecting my kit from airport on time will be very difficult. So, I have told IOA (Indian Olympic Association) that I am not coming for opening ceremony,” Toor told PTI.
“My kit is lying in India. Nobody in the athletics team has got their kits so far,” he revealed.
The athletics team has been training at the and will reach the Nagoya on September 21, two days before the start of the athletics event. Toor was informed ab out him being India’s flag bearer too late, adding that had the communication happened earlier, his coach could have collected the kit on his behalf and avoided the setback.
“IOA told me yesterday about me becoming flag-bearer. Otherwise my coach who reached here yesterday could have picked it (the kit) up for me,” he said.
Meanwhile, the will take place at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Aichi-Nagoya on Saturday, September 19 and is set to get underway at 2:30 PM IST. Fans can tune into Sony Sports Network to watch the opening ceremony.