India Defend Asian Games Women’s Cricket Title With Record Win
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Women’s Cricket Team Secures India’s First Asian Games Gold
The Indian Women’s cricket team confirmed our cricket predictions by retaining their title at the 2026 Asian Games, beating Sri Lanka by a commanding 147 runs in the final at the Karogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Japan, on Tuesday afternoon.
After winning the toss and deciding to bat, the Women in Blue got off to an excellent start, with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana building a stunning opening partnership of 99 runs in 9.6 overs before Verma was dismissed for 48 runs off 29 deliveries by Chamudi Praboda.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur added 19 runs from 17 balls at number three, while Mandhana went on to post an impressive 79 runs off 45 deliveries - her 37th T20I half-century - including five 4s and seven 6s, at a strike rate of 175.56.
India’s late flourish came from wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh, who finished unbeaten on 49 runs off 22 balls. Ghosh smashed six 4s and three 6's at a strike rate of 222.73 to take India to an imposing total of 216/3 in their 20-over allotment.
India’s 216/3 now stands as the highest team total ever in women’s cricket at the Asian Games!
Chamari Athapaththu made a positive start for Sri Lanka in their chase, but India managed a couple of early breakthroughs through Shafali, who claimed the wickets of Imesha Dulani and Hasini Perera inside the powerplay, and it was all downhill for the team from there.
After Athapaththu’s 29-run knock off 21 deliveries, only Kavisha Dilhari (11) and Kaushani Nuthyangana (14) managed to score in double digits. Deepti Sharma was the star with the ball for India, claiming three wickets for just six runs in her four overs, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 69 in the 16th over.
2026 Asian Games Medals Tally After Day 4
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 41 | 14 | 10 | 65 |
| 2 | Japan | 11 | 20 | 22 | 53 |
| 3 | South Korea | 7 | 6 | 21 | 34 |
| 4 | Kazakhstan | 7 | 4 | 6 | 17 |
| 5 | Thailand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
| 6 | Hong Kong | 3 | 6 | 5 | 14 |
| 7 | Malaysia | 3 | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| 8 | Iran | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 9 | Kuwait | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 10 | Tajikistan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 11 | India | 1 | 5 | 5 | 11 |
| 12 | Macau | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| Uzbekistan | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | |
| 14 | Chinese Taipei | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 |
| 15 | Singapore | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| 16 | Jordan | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Myanmar | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| Qatar | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| 19 | Vietnam | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| 20 | North Korea | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 21 | Saudi Arabia | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 22 | Bahrain | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 23 | Indonesia | 0 | 1 | 9 | 10 |
| 24 | Philippines | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 25 | Iraq | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 26 | Lebanon | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 27 | Afghanistan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Sri Lanka | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Turkmenistan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 30 | Cambodia | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 31 | Kyrgyzstan | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 32 | Pakistan | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 33 | Brunei | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Mongolia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Nepal | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Syria | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Totals (36 entries) | 93 | 91 | 130 | 314 |
