ISLAMABAD: Pakistan women’s cricket captain Fatima Sana and rising squash player Noor Zaman have been named the country’s flag bearers for the opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) announced on Wednesday.
Noor Zaman of Squash and Fatima Sana Khan, captain of Pakistan’s Women’s Cricket Team, will carry the Pakistan flag on 19 September, as the Flag Bearers of the Pakistan Contingentat the Opening Ceremony of the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026. pic.twitter.com/YWX9jOHfvm
— Pakistan Olympic Association (@NOCPakistan) September 16, 2026
The duo will lead Pakistan’s contingent into the opening ceremony on September 19, carrying the national flag as the Games officially get underway.
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The POA announced that Noor Zaman and Fatima Sana would serve as the flag bearers for the Pakistan contingent, describing the pair as representatives who would lead Team Pakistan onto the Asian stage.
PAKISTAN WOMEN’S CRICKET TEAM IS ON ITS WAY TO JAPAN!
The women in green are heading to Aichi-Nagoya to represent Pakistan at the 20th Asian Games.
The team is arriving on 14 September, ahead of the Women’s Cricket competition from 17 to 22 September. pic.twitter.com/NkW4ilzLMH— Pakistan Olympic Association (@NOCPakistan) September 14, 2026
246 Pakistani athletes to compete
According to the POA, Pakistan will be represented by 246 athletes across 23 disciplines at the continental showpiece, including cricket, squash, hockey, athletics and esports.
246 MEMBERS. 23 SPORTS. ONE TEAM.
Team Pakistan is ready for the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026!
A 246-member contingent of athletes and officials will represent Pakistan across 23 sports.
One Team. One Nation. One Dream.#TeamPakistan #AsianGames2026 #AichiNagoya2026 pic.twitter.com/5vWYuD9Bkb— Pakistan Olympic Association (@NOCPakistan) September 9, 2026
The Games will continue until October 4, with Pakistan fielding athletes across a diverse range of sports.
Japan faces accommodation challenge
The host country is meanwhile dealing with a sharp increase in the number of participants, with the overall figure reportedly rising from an expected 15,000 to around 17,000.
TEAM PAKISTAN -COMPETITION SCHEDULE
Here is the competition schedule for 17 September at the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Follow Team Pakistan as our athletes take to the field of play.#TeamPakistan #AsianGames2026 #AichiNagoya2026 #NOCPakistan pic.twitter.com/AaTsoyZmRK— Pakistan Olympic Association (@NOCPakistan) September 16, 2026
Organisers have not established a conventional athletes’ village. Instead, temporary container-style accommodation has been arranged for some athletes and officials, while others will stay in hotels, with some participants expected to be housed in Tokyo.
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Around 4,000 to 5,000 athletes are reportedly expected to stay aboard the cruise ship Costa Serena, which docked off the shores of Nagoya on Tuesday and is scheduled to remain there until October 4.
