Indian women cricket team. Photo courtesy: BCCI.tv
Mumbai: India retained the women’s cricket gold medal at the Asian Games with a 147-run victory over Sri Lanka in the final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin (Japan) on Tuesday. Smriti Mandhana struck 79 off 45 balls, Shafali Verma made 48 off 29, and Richa Ghosh smashed an unbeaten 49 off 22 to power India to 216 for 3, the highest total in Asian Games history.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 69 in 15.4 overs. Deepti Sharma led the attack with figures of 3 for 6. Shafali Verma, Shreyanka Patil, and Shree Charani each claimed two wickets. The victory margin was India’s largest in women’s T20 Internationals, surpassing a 144-run win over Malaysia in 2018.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat. Mandhana and Shafali opened with a 99-run partnership off 60 balls. The pair became the first to reach 4,000 runs together in T20Is. India posted 67 for no loss at the end of the powerplay.
Mandhana brought up her fifty off 30 balls in the tenth over. She hit seven sixes and five fours, completing 11,000 runs in international cricket during the innings. Shafali fell for 48, top-edging a shot to short third off Chamudi Praboda.
Ghosh, promoted to No. 4, arrived after Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed for 19 off 17 balls. Ghosh struck three sixes and six fours in her 22-ball innings. She remained unbeaten alongside Bharti Fulmali, who made a run-a-ball seven.
Sri Lanka’s chase never gathered momentum. Shafali removed Imesha Dulani and Hasini Perera inside the powerplay. Deepti Sharma then dismissed captain Chamari Athapaththu for 29 off 21 balls. Sri Lanka were reduced to 49 for 6 inside 10 overs. No other batter reached double figures.
Ghosh reflects on gold medal
Richa Ghosh spoke to broadcasters after the match. ‘Feeling very good, everyone is happy because this is what we wanted. Since we started our journey for the Asian Games, our one focus was to win gold and raise the India flag as high as we can, make India proud; that is what we wanted, and I think after getting the gold, I think everyone is happy,’ Ghosh said.
Ghosh also described the difference between winning a trophy and standing on the podium for the national anthem. ‘I think the difference in feeling between both, when you stand on the podium and sing the national anthem, so I think when you feel the national anthem there, that is a different feeling and the trophy, no doubt, that is also good, that is also enjoyable for us. So both have a very different feeling, so I cannot make either of them less,’ she said.
PM Modi hails splendid triumph
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team on social media. ‘A splendid triumph for Indian cricket! Heartiest congratulations to our Women’s Cricket Team on winning the Gold medal at the Asian Games. It was a commanding performance at the Games, marked by confidence, skill and wonderful teamwork. This victory also brings India its first Gold of this edition of the Games. The team has made the nation proud and will inspire countless young cricketers across the country. Best wishes to the entire squad: PM @narendramodi’
A splendid triumph for Indian cricket! Heartiest congratulations to our Women’s Cricket Team on winning the Gold medal at the Asian Games. It was a commanding performance at the Games, marked by confidence, skill and wonderful teamwork. This victory also brings India its first… pic.twitter.com/oZI9Uoyp6I
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 22, 2026
India completed an unbeaten campaign at the tournament. The team defeated Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Pakistan in the group stage. India then beat Bangladesh by 114 runs in the semi-final. Shafali Verma scored her maiden T20I century in that match, an unbeaten 100 off 49 balls. She became the first woman to score a century at the Asian Games.
The gold medal was India’s first at the 2026 Asian Games and the country’s seventh overall at the event. Pakistan won bronze after defeating Bangladesh by 31 runs in the third-place playoff. The men’s T20 competition is scheduled to begin on September 24.
India’s next assignment is a white-ball series against Zimbabwe at home in October. The team will then host South Africa in December before the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in February.
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