Asian Games | Indian contingent formally welcomed amidst chaos, confusion at flag-hoisting ceremony

The Asian Games chaos in Aichi-Nagoya continued ahead of the formal opening ceremony on Saturday (September 19, 2026), with the official welcome ceremony for several nations, including India, marred by disruptions, delays and confusion.

The Indian contingent, along with those from North Korea, Yemen, Palestine, Timor-Leste and Taiwan, was supposed to have its flag-hoisting ceremony at the Garden Pier — where the container accommodation is — at 1:30 p.m. local time in the second session of the day, but the disorganised planning meant it didn’t happen before 2:30 p.m. and after a series of stops, starts and going backwards and forwards.