Asian Games 2026: Women’s cricket team wins India’s first gold in style

Indian women players celebrate after winning the T20 cricket match between India and Sri Lanka 22 September 2026 | Photo credit: AP

The Indian national anthem was played for the first time at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Tuesday.

Follow | Asian Games 2026 LIVE: India beat Sri Lanka in women’s cricket to win first gold medal

A rousing opening partnership followed by a brilliant innings and a strangle hold secured the country its first gold of the Games. Harmanpreet Kaur Women retained their title in commanding fashion with a 147-run victory against Sri Lanka in the final at the Korogi Athletics Park in Nisshin.

Chasing a massive target of 217, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 69 in 15.4 overs, stumbling early and never finding their footing as Deepti Sharma et al. they didn’t allow the Sri Lankan batsmen any breathing room on the small pitch.

The damage with the ball was initiated, as it was with the bat, by Shafali Verma, who sent back Imesh Dulani and Hasini Perera in successive overs to reduce the Islanders to 30 for two in five overs. She didn’t come bowling again but the collapse began and when Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu was caught by Bharti Fulmali at long-on off Deepti, with the score at 43 for three, it was all over.

Chamari was Lanka’s top scorer with 29 (21b, 5×4), one of only three batsmen to reach double figures in a line-up that had three ducks. Deepti scalped three while Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani claimed two wickets each as Sri Lanka finished with another continental showpiece silverware after Hangzhou 2023.

Earlier, when the Indians decided to bat, they continued in the same vein as in the Asia Cup final nine days ago. Shafali (48, 29b, 3×4, 3×6) and Smriti Mandhana (79, 45b, 5×4, 7×6) were in imperial form. The two added 99 in the first 10 overs, each posting a strike rate of more than 150. Shafali, trying to go back, failed to clear the infield and missed the half-century.

Richa Ghosh’s unbeaten 22-ball 49 (6×4, 3×6) was the icing on the cake, pushing the total past 200 after Harmanpreet fell for 19. Smriti’s sublime but equally devastating knock underpinned India’s dismal 216 for three.

In the morning, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana’s 30-ball 45 and Umm-e-Hani’s three for 10 helped the team win the bronze by 31 runs against Bangladesh in the play-off.

Score (Final): India 216/3 in 20 overs (Shafali 48, Smriti 79, Richa 49 no) bt Sri Lanka 69 in 15.4 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 29, Shafali 2/3, Deepti 3/6, Shree Charani 2/9, Shreeyanka 2/9). Toss: India.

Published – 22 Sep 2026 13:55 IST