India Retain Asian Games Women's Cricket Gold

India's women's cricket team retained the Asian Games gold medal on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, near Nagoya, Japan. Batting first after winning the toss, India posted 216 for 3 in their 20 overs, the highest total in Asian Games cricket history. Smriti Mandhana anchored the innings with 79 off 45 balls, including seven sixes, while Shafali Verma contributed 48 off 29. The opening pair put on 99 runs from 60 deliveries, and India reached 59 without loss in the powerplay. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur was promoted to number three but managed 19 off 17 before being dismissed. Richa Ghosh then struck an unbeaten knock in the death overs to push India past 200, with reports differing on whether she finished on 48 or 49 not out off 22 balls. Sri Lanka's chase never gathered momentum. Shafali Verma claimed the first wicket, dismissing Imesha Dulani for 3, and although the visitors lost only two wickets inside the powerplay, the innings collapsed after the fielding restrictions ended.