Smriti Mandhana produced a brilliant batting performance as India defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs to win the women’s cricket gold medal at the Asian Games on Tuesday.
The victory gave India their second consecutive Asian Games gold medal in women’s cricket, following their triumph at the 2022 Games in China.
Mandhana Leads India to Record Total
India posted a record 216-3 in the final at the Korogi Athletic Park in Nagoya, registering the highest total in Asian Games women’s cricket.
Mandhana was the star performer, smashing 79 from 45 balls, including seven sixes and five fours.
Her opening partner Shafali Verma also made a major contribution with 48 off 29 balls, while Richa Ghosh finished unbeaten on 49 from just 22 deliveries.
India’s innings featured 18 fours and 13 sixes as the batters dominated the Sri Lankan bowling attack.
Chasing 217, Sri Lanka struggled to build momentum and were bowled out for just 69 in 15.4 overs.
Captain Chamari Athapaththu was Sri Lanka’s top scorer with 29, but India’s bowling attack kept taking regular wickets to complete a comprehensive victory.
India Claim Second Straight Asian Games Gold
The gold medal marked India’s first gold of the 2026 Asian Games, being held in Japan from September 19 to October 4.
For the Indian women’s cricket team, it was another major success after they recently won the Women’s T20 Asia Cup in Dubai, defeating Sri Lanka convincingly in the final.
India once again proved too strong for the same opponents in Nagoya.
Mandhana Celebrates India’s First Gold
Mandhana expressed her delight at helping India secure the first gold medal of their 2026 Asian Games campaign.
She said it was a special feeling to stand on the podium after watching other Indian athletes win medals on television.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur also praised Mandhana and Shafali for providing India with a strong start and highlighted the importance of the partnerships throughout the innings.
India and Pakistan Share Podium
The medal ceremony also provided a memorable moment as India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka shared the podium.
Indian and Pakistani players came together for a group photograph after receiving their medals. Harmanpreet stood alongside Pakistan captain Fatima Sana as both teams posed with their medals.
The moment came against the backdrop of recent tensions surrounding India-Pakistan cricket, making the shared podium and group photograph a notable sporting moment.
Pakistan Win Women’s Cricket Bronze
Earlier in the day, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 31 runs to claim the bronze medal.
Fatima Sana led Pakistan’s batting effort with a superb 45 from 30 balls, helping her team post 145-8.
Bangladesh could manage only 114-7 in reply, giving Pakistan the bronze medal.
India’s victory in women’s cricket provided the country with its first gold medal of the 2026 Asian Games.
For Harmanpreet and her team, the triumph marked another milestone as India successfully defended their Asian Games women’s cricket title.