India's shooting star Neeru Dhanda will carry the national flag at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on Sunday, October 4, rounding off a campaign in which the 27-year-old trap shooter emerged as one of the country's standout performers.
The decision was announced on Friday. According to The Times of India, the call came from former shooter and India's deputy chef de mission at Aichi-Nagoya, Anjali Bhagwat, asking Neeru to return to Japan for the honour. The closing ceremony will take place at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium between 2:30 pm and 4 pm IST.
A campaign for the ages
Neeru won three medals at Aichi-Nagoya: two golds and a silver. Her run began with silver in the women's trap team event alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer, with the Indian trio's combined score of 328 finishing behind gold medallists China while Kuwait took bronze.
She then delivered a historic performance in the individual trap event, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold in the discipline. Having topped qualification with 118, she scored 28 in the final to set an Asian record and take gold. Less than 24 hours later, she partnered Kynan Chenai to win the trap mixed team gold with 34 hits, breaking the previous Asian record of 33 set by Qatar earlier in 2026.
A flight back for the honour
Neeru had returned home to Sangatpura village in Jind just a day earlier and was still recovering from viral fever when Bhagwat's call came. She did not hesitate.
"I am at the airport. The flight is in the next hour. I got a call from Anjali Bhagwat ma'am. She has asked me to be the flag bearer at the closing ceremony. It's a big honour for me. I didn't want to let it go," Neeru told TimesofIndia.com, adding that her parents were delighted.
Sportstar reported that Neeru will travel back to Nagoya on Saturday morning to lead the Indian contingent, and that a decision on the male flag-bearer would be taken the following day.
Sources: The Times of India: "Neeru Dhanda flies back to Japan within a day to be India's flag bearer at Asian Games closing ceremony", Sportstar: "Neeru Dhanda to be India's flagbearer at Asian Games 2026 closing ceremony"
The decision was announced on Friday. According to The Times of India, the call came from former shooter and India's deputy chef de mission at Aichi-Nagoya, Anjali Bhagwat, asking Neeru to return to Japan for the honour. The closing ceremony will take place at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium between 2:30 pm and 4 pm IST.
A campaign for the ages
Neeru won three medals at Aichi-Nagoya: two golds and a silver. Her run began with silver in the women's trap team event alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer, with the Indian trio's combined score of 328 finishing behind gold medallists China while Kuwait took bronze.
She then delivered a historic performance in the individual trap event, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold in the discipline. Having topped qualification with 118, she scored 28 in the final to set an Asian record and take gold. Less than 24 hours later, she partnered Kynan Chenai to win the trap mixed team gold with 34 hits, breaking the previous Asian record of 33 set by Qatar earlier in 2026.
A flight back for the honour
Neeru had returned home to Sangatpura village in Jind just a day earlier and was still recovering from viral fever when Bhagwat's call came. She did not hesitate.
"I am at the airport. The flight is in the next hour. I got a call from Anjali Bhagwat ma'am. She has asked me to be the flag bearer at the closing ceremony. It's a big honour for me. I didn't want to let it go," Neeru told TimesofIndia.com, adding that her parents were delighted.
Sportstar reported that Neeru will travel back to Nagoya on Saturday morning to lead the Indian contingent, and that a decision on the male flag-bearer would be taken the following day.
Sources: The Times of India: "Neeru Dhanda flies back to Japan within a day to be India's flag bearer at Asian Games closing ceremony", Sportstar: "Neeru Dhanda to be India's flagbearer at Asian Games 2026 closing ceremony"
