India’s women’s cricket team claimed gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 by beating Sri Lanka in the final by 147 runs, successfully retaining the title they had first secured at the Hangzhou 2023 edition. The result also handed India the first gold medal of the 2026 Asian Games across all sports. Sri Lanka took silver for the second edition running, and Pakistan earned bronze after overcoming Bangladesh in the third-place playoff match held earlier on the same day.
VVS Laxman, who is serving as stand-in head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team at the same Games, took to X to acknowledge the women’s achievement. He described the triumph as a proud moment for the country and extended his appreciation to every member of the squad and the support staff. “
Congratulations to our women’s team on winning the gold. A fantastic achievement and a proud moment for Indian cricket. Well done to the entire team and support staff,” Laxman wrote on X.
Laxman is overseeing the men’s cricket competition at the Games, which runs from September 24 to October 3. His side recently edged Japan by two runs in a one-off T20I, a result that marked a notable moment in the history of Indian men’s cricket at the Asian Games.
How did India’s bowlers bowl Sri Lanka out in the final?
India’s bowling attack was relentless throughout the final, reducing Sri Lanka to a total that left the margin of defeat at 147 runs. The performance was a collective one, with contributions spread across the attack rather than resting on a single shoulder.
Deepti Sharma led the way with figures of 3/6, a return that underlined her control and threat in the powerplay and middle overs. Shafali Verma, Shree Charani and Shreyanka Patil each finished with two wickets, ensuring Sri Lanka had no meaningful partnership to build on. The combined effort left India’s batters with a straightforward chase to complete the title defence.
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What is the significance of India’s gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games?
India’s victory in the women’s cricket final carried weight beyond the sport itself, as it represented the country’s first gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games. Retaining the title from Hangzhou 2023 confirmed India’s standing as the dominant force in women’s cricket at the continental multi-sport event.
The final also repeated the exact pairing from the previous edition, with Sri Lanka again finishing as runners-up. Pakistan’s bronze, secured against Bangladesh, rounded off a final day of cricket that saw all four competing nations finish with medals. For the Indian women’s side, the gold adds to a period of consistent performance at major tournaments and reinforces the depth of talent available across the squad.
