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Nagoya
India’s women’s cricket team clinched the country’s first gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games after defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in a one-sided T20 final at Korogi Sports Park on Tuesday. The victory also secured India’s second consecutive Asian Games gold in women’s cricket, following their triumph at Hangzhou in 2022.
Batting first after winning the toss, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side posted a formidable 216 for three in 20 overs, the highest total in the history of women’s cricket at the Asian Games. Smriti Mandhana led the charge with a blistering 79 off 45 balls, while Shafali Verma contributed 48 off 29 balls. The opening pair put on 99 runs, giving India a strong platform. Richa Ghosh then provided a late surge, remaining unbeaten on 49 from just 22 deliveries.
Sri Lanka struggled to respond to India’s imposing total and were bowled out for 69 in 15.4 overs. Captain Chamari Athapaththu top-scored with 29, but India’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout the chase to seal a comprehensive victory.
The win opened India’s gold-medal account at the Aichi-Nagoya Games and took the country’s overall medal tally to seven at the time, comprising one gold, four silver and two bronze medals.
Mandhana’s innings also marked a significant individual milestone, as she became the first woman to reach 11,000 international runs. India’s victory further strengthened its record in women’s cricket at the Asian Games, with the team successfully defending the title won in Hangzhou.