India among teams hit by delay in flag hoisting ceremony
India were among five contingents left waiting after the traditional Asian Games flag hoisting ceremony was delayed and then abruptly halted in Nagoya on Friday. The organisers blamed unspecified “trouble” involving one of the teams but did not provide further details for the interruption.
Yemen, North Korea, Palestine, India and Timor-Leste were scheduled to take part in the ceremony at Garden Pier. India’s four deputy chefs de mission, A Sharath Kamal, Lijo David Thottan, Alaknanda Ashok and Anjali Bhagwat, were present at the venue.
“We are sorry for the delay. There is some trouble with a team. We will try to restore in another 15 minutes,” the local organisers said.
The ceremony eventually began after a 20-minute delay, only to be stopped again. Sharath Kamal and Anjali Bhagwat had started making their way towards the dais before returning to the waiting area after the proceedings were interrupted.
The episode adds to a series of organisational concerns that have emerged in Nagoya ahead of the official opening on Saturday.MISMANAGEMENT CRITICISM GROWS
Friday’s disruption adds another episode to the criticism surrounding the organisation of the Nagoya Asian Games. The event has already faced questions over accommodation, transportation and the decision to house athletes across multiple locations instead of building a conventional Games Village.
The organisers have arranged accommodation in container-style facilities, hotels and the Costa Serena cruise ship as part of a cost-cutting approach. However, delays in room allocation and difficulties reaching training venues have left some athletes and officials frustrated.
Indian MMA athlete Varun Sanyal had highlighted accommodation concerns, while India’s Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav acknowledged that there had been some mismanagement around the arrangements. Badminton star Satwiksairaj Rankireddy also revealed that members of the Indian contingent had waited several hours for a bus on one occasion.
Flag hoisting ceremonies are a traditional part of major multi-sport events and are held before the opening ceremony as a formal welcome for participating delegations.
The Asian Games officially open on September 19, with competitions in several disciplines already underway. As thousands of athletes prepare for the main programme, organisers will now face increased scrutiny to ensure the logistical problems do not continue to overshadow the sporting action.- EndsPublished By: Debodinna ChakrabortyPublished On: Sep 18, 2026 11:42 IST
