India won its first gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, thanks to a clinical performance by the women's cricket team on Tuesday (September 22).
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side hammered Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final to successfully defend the gold medal they won at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
After the triumph, India head coach Amol Muzumdar stated that the team’s success could kickstart a streak of top-podium finishes for the country at the continental event.
“It's been fantastic. I'm really happy that you know that finally that left-hand side column (Gold) has got one medal and I'm sure post this, there'll be a streak of Gold medals for India at the Games hereon,” Muzumdar told IANS.
The victory came right on the heels of India's dominant Women's Asia Cup title win in Dubai earlier this month.
Muzumdar highlighted the extreme transition the players made—moving from the intense, energy-sapping humidity of the UAE straight into the unfamiliar overhead and hybrid pitch conditions in Japan—all while maintaining a flawless winning momentum.
“But coming from Dubai straight into Japan, straight to Tokyo and then to Nagoya, it's been a fabulous journey for everyone. There were demands of this tournament as well. We didn't know what conditions we would get over here. There was a hybrid pitch, and they adapted to the pitch conditions and the overhead conditions really well,” he added.
In the gold medal match, India posted 216/3—the highest total in Asian Games cricket history. Opener Smriti Mandhana spearheaded the innings with a brilliant 79 off 45 balls, complemented by Shafali Verma's explosive 48 off 29 balls and an unbeaten 49 off 22 balls from Richa Ghosh.
The Indian bowling unit then completely dismantled the Sri Lankan lineup, bundling them out for a mere 69 runs in 15.4 overs. Deepti Sharma led with 3 wickets for 6 runs, while Shafali, Shree Charani, and Shreyanka Patil choked the run flow by picking up two wickets each.
Muzumdar said the team's preparation window between matches also helped the players settle into the conditions before the decisive stages of the competition.
“Yeah, we did. We played a game on 18th, and then we had a break on 19, and then we played the semifinals on the 20th. So we had a couple of days' break, and we used it really well.”
Beyond cricket, Muzumdar revealed the team had a wonderful time exploring Japan's rich culinary scene and experiencing their world-renowned hospitality.
“I enjoyed Japan. I thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality and the food here. I'm a foodie, as I said before, so I enjoyed the food here too. We explored the city and the food. It's been fantastic so far in Japan.”
According to Muzumdar, this success was not accidental as preparations began months prior, specifically right after the team returned from their tour of England. He noted that every tournament carries its own unique set of challenges and pressures, making the ultimate victory and celebration distinct each time.
“Every tournament is different. The pressures are different. So the celebrations also would be different. So, you know, we would enjoy ourselves; the girls have really worked hard. They've put in a lot of effort. This campaign didn't start on the first day of this tournament. It started way back. As soon as we came back from England, we had a superb camp, so the hard work started then, and the celebrations will follow as well,” he remarked.
(With IANS Inputs)
