AICHI, Sep 22: Smriti Mandhana’s explosive 79 and a dominant bowling display helped India defeat Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the women’s cricket final at the Asian Games 2026 on Tuesday, securing the country’s first gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
Batting first after captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss, India posted a record 216 for three in 20 overs, the highest team total in women’s cricket at the Asian Games.
Mandhana led the charge with a 45-ball 79, while Richa Ghosh provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 49 off just 22 balls.
India made a flying start as Mandhana and Shafali Verma added 66 runs during the powerplay. Shafali, who had scored a century in the semi-final against Bangladesh, struck three sixes in the fifth over before being dismissed for 48.
Mandhana reached her 37th T20I half-century in 30 balls before eventually falling in the 17th over while attempting to accelerate the scoring.
Harmanpreet added 42 during her partnership with Mandhana before being dismissed in the 15th over, but Richa’s unbeaten knock ensured India finished with a record total.
India’s 216 for three surpassed Hong Kong China’s previous Asian Games record of 202 for four, scored against Mongolia during the Hangzhou 2023 quarter-final qualifiers.
Chasing 217, Sri Lanka struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack and were bowled out for just 69 in 15.4 overs.
Deepti Sharma was the pick of the Indian bowlers, claiming three wickets for six runs. Shafali, Shree Charani and Shreyanka Patil picked up two wickets each.
Shafali provided India with early breakthroughs by dismissing Imesha Dulani and Hasini Perera, before Deepti removed Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu for 29 off 21 balls shortly after the powerplay.
The wicket triggered a collapse as Sri Lanka continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.
The victory marked India’s second consecutive Asian Games gold in women’s cricket after their triumph over Sri Lanka in the Hangzhou 2023 final.
Sri Lanka had to settle for silver for the second straight edition, while Pakistan claimed bronze after defeating Bangladesh in the third-place playoff earlier in the day.
