Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
India’s women’s cricket team ended the country’s wait for a gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games by defeating Sri Lanka by a massive 147 runs in the final on Tuesday. With the victory, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side successfully defended its Asian Games title and delivered India’s first gold medal of the Games.
After winning the toss, India elected to bat and posted a record-breaking 216/3 in 20 overs, the highest total ever recorded in women’s cricket at the Asian Games. In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 69 runs in 15.4 overs, settling for the silver medal, while Pakistan claimed bronze.
India had entered the final as one of the strongest contenders for the title and lived up to expectations with a commanding performance. The triumph also ended India’s gold medal drought at the Games after the country had secured four silver and two bronze medals in the first two days of competition.
The final witnessed a historic batting display from the Indian side. Their total of 216/3 surpassed the previous highest score in women’s cricket at the Asian Games. It was only the second instance of a women’s team crossing the 200-run mark in the tournament, eclipsing Hong Kong’s 202-run effort against Mongolia in 2023.
Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma laid the foundation for India’s huge score with a 99-run partnership for the first wicket. Mandhana reached her half-century in just 30 balls and continued her aggressive approach throughout the innings. Shafali narrowly missed a fifty, departing for 48.
India then lost captain Harmanpreet Kaur for 19, but Mandhana kept the momentum going before being dismissed for a superb 79 off 45 balls, an innings featuring five fours and seven sixes.
Richa Ghosh provided the finishing flourish with a blistering unbeaten 49 off 22 deliveries, smashing six fours and three sixes. She shared an unbroken 53-run stand with Bharti Fulmali, who remained unbeaten on seven, as India crossed the 200-run mark in style.
For Sri Lanka, Sugandika Kumari, Kavisha Dilhari and Chamudi Praboda picked up one wicket each, but the bowlers struggled to contain India’s powerful batting line-up.
The emphatic victory reaffirmed India’s dominance in women’s cricket at the Asian Games and added another golden chapter to the team’s growing international success.
