Nagoya, Sept. 19 -- The 20th Asian Games were officially opened with a ceremony at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium here on Saturday, with double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat leading the Indian contingent as flagbearers.

India is represented by a 501-athlete contingent competing across 36 sports at the continental multi-sport event, which runs from September 19 to October 4.

Bhaker, who won two bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, shared the flag-bearing honour with Sehrawat, a member of India's gold-medal-winning men's kabaddi team at the previous Asian Games.

Sehrawat was named the male flagbearer in place of shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor due to technical issues.

The opening ceremony marked the fo...