Women's cricket team gives India first gold of 2026 Asian Games
The Indian women’s cricket team extended their dominance against Sri Lanka who had to settle for silver.
The Indian women's cricket team reasserted its continental dominance by clinching a second successive gold medal at the Asian Games, thrashing familiar foes Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final here on Tuesday.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side's gold was India's first of the ongoing edition and was shaped by a brilliant batting performance that left Sri Lanka chasing a record target of 217.
Smriti Mandhana was regal as ever in her 79 off 45 before Richa Ghosh (48 off 22) came up with a brutal assault in the death overs to fire India to 216 for three, the highest total in Asian Games history.
Once India scaled that record total, the result was a foregone conclusion.
All Sri Lankan hopes were pinned on skipper Chamari Athapaththu (29 off 21) but she alone could not take the fight to the Indians. Sri Lanka capitulated to 69 all out in 15.4 overs as Indian spinners ran through the opposition.
Shafali Verma (48 and 2/3) produced an all-round performance while Deepti Sharma (3/6) and Shree Charani (2) chipped in with wickets as usual in a final devoid of a contest.
India were overwhelming favourites for the title and they certainly lived up to expectations with three dominant wins over the course of the competition.
Just like the Asia Cup earlier this month, Sri Lanka were at the receiving end in the final, unable to compete with their familiar rivals.
Pakistan won the bronze with a comfortable 31-run win over Bangladesh earlier in the day.
With script going as planned for the Indian women's team, the men would also be expected to defend their title.
The side made the most of the powerplay after winning the toss with Mandhana (79 off 45) and Shafali (48 off 29) firing the team to 59 for no loss in six overs.
Both openers have been in sublime touch since the Asia Cup, contributing significantly to the team's cause in the all-important final with a 99-run stand off 60 balls.
Sri Lanka were ordinary with the ball allowing the openers to dictate terms.
Both Shafali and Mandhana were brutal against the spinners.