India Women Claim Gold at Asian Games After Crushing Sri Lanka in Cricket Final

The Indian women's cricket team defended its Asian Games gold medal by defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. This victory marks India's first gold medal of the ongoing Games and sets a new record for the team's largest win margin in all women's T20 internationals, beating the previous 144-run win over Malaysia in 2018. Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, India posted a total of 216 for three, which is the highest women's T20 total at the Asian Games across four editions. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma shared a 99-run partnership, becoming the first pair to reach 4,000 runs together in T20Is. Shafali scored 48 runs, while Mandhana played a fast-paced knock of 79 runs from five fours and seven sixes, crossing 11,000 career runs and scoring her 37th T20I half-century. Wicket-keeper Richa Ghosh, batting at number four, added a quick 49 runs from just 22 balls. In response, Sri Lanka's chase faltered as Shafali took two early wickets during the Powerplay. Bowlers Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani also took wickets, restricting Sri Lanka to 49 for six in 10 overs before bowling them out for 67 runs in total. This win continues a nine-match unbeaten streak for Harmanpreet Kaur's side, which started following their group stage exit from the T20 World Cup in June. The team previously won a Test against England at Lord's, secured their eighth Asia Cup title, and defeated Thailand, Hong Kong, Pakistan, and Bangladesh on their way to the Asian Games final. Cricket returned to the Asian Games after being played in 2010, 2014, and 2023, with India joining Pakistan as the only teams to win consecutive gold medals in the sport. The Indian men's team will play next in the quarterfinals on September 28, while the women's team will host white-ball series against Zimbabwe in October and South Africa in December, followed by the Women's Champions Trophy in February.