India Claims First Asian Games Gold in Cricket at Unconventional Japanese Venue

India secured its first gold medal of the Asian Games by defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in a cricket final held at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, near Nagoya. The venue, featuring a newly laid cricket pitch alongside a baseball cage, bench, and restroom, underwent a 305 million yen, or roughly Rs 18 crore, conversion project between September of last year and March of 2026. This overhaul covered 14,984 square metres of turf, added practice nets, and built storage facilities, following the late inclusion of cricket in the Asian Games schedule, which PT Usha helped finalize as Indian Olympic Association president. The match drew a diverse crowd, including a Sri Lankan family driving from Nara and overseas Indians visiting from England. Local Japanese spectators, many attending their first cricket match, relied on beginner guides and public announcer Mimi Hirayama, who drew comparisons to baseball by equating a six to a home run and a four to a three-base hit. Hirayama prepared by living in England and reviewing matches ahead of the Games. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur noted that the team adjusted well to the hybrid pitches, drawing on prior experience in England. Mayor Hiroki Kondo confirmed that cricket will continue at the facility alongside baseball, operating for 18 days annually. The ground previously hosted matches during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in May, and the Indian men's team is also scheduled to play at the location.