INTRO
India won its first Asian Games 2026 gold after defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the women’s cricket final in Aichi-Nagoya on Tuesday.
AICHI-NAGOYA
India secured the first gold medal of its Asian Games 2026 campaign on Tuesday as the women’s cricket team defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Chasing 217 after India posted 216/3, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 69 in 15.4 overs, giving India their second successive Asian Games gold in women’s cricket.
Smriti Mandhana led India’s batting effort with 79 from 45 balls, hitting five fours and seven sixes. Shafali Verma made a rapid 48 off 29 balls, while Richa Ghosh finished unbeaten on 49 from 22 balls, including six fours and three sixes. India reached 67 without loss in the powerplay and later posted the highest-ever total in women’s cricket at the Asian Games.
Mandhana completed her 37th T20I half-century and became the first woman cricketer to reach 11,000 runs in international cricket. India’s opening pair added 99 before Shafali was dismissed. Harmanpreet Kaur contributed 19 from 17 balls, while Mandhana and Richa helped maintain the scoring rate through the closing overs.
Sri Lanka’s chase quickly collapsed under India’s spin attack. Deepti Sharma took 3/6 from four overs, while Shree Charani claimed 2/13. Shafali returned 2/3 in two overs and Shreyanka Patil took 2/9 in 1.4 overs. Chamari Athapaththu top-scored for Sri Lanka with 29, but Deepti dismissed the captain after a 21-ball innings containing five fours. India had already collected four silver and two bronze medals at the Games before this victory, taking their overall tally to seven.
Sri Lanka lost wickets regularly after reaching 41/2 at the end of the powerplay. Deepti removed Kavisha Dilhari for 11, while Charani dismissed Kawya Kavindi for two and later Sugandika Kumari for three runs.
