Harmanpreet's India make history with record 147-run win, clinch Asian Games gold
toi
newspoint|23-09-2026
Trust the women to lead the way. Proud to be part of the Indian contingent at the Asian Games, but with no athletes’ village and handed a tight schedule, the women’s cricket team had little opportunity to mingle with, interact with or watch the country’s other athletes.
But on a sun-kissed Tuesday at the Korogi Sports Park here, Harmanpreet Kaur and her team gave the nearly 500-strong contingent a big reason to celebrate, winning India’s first gold of the Games with a dominant 147-run win, the highest margin of victory by runs in women’s T20 Internationals, over Sri Lanka in the final.
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The skipper was delighted that her team had struck India’s first gold.
“It’s a big thing for me because our aim was to take back the gold. More importantly, we wanted to see our flag fly high. We didn’t think we would win the first gold. I’m sure our athletes will win many more gold medals,” Harmanpreet said.
Unlike the other events they play in, there is no trophy to be lifted here. But Harmanpreet was more than happy to trade it for a gold medal .
“When we win trophies, they go to the BCCI office,” she said with a laugh. “The biggest thing for us is to be part of the Games and take back a medal to frame and keep at home,” Harmanpreet said.
The gold was not just a successful defence of a medal. It was a reminder, on an evening when their fellow athletes were scattered across the city and beyond, that the contingent could come together in celebration.
“Looking at the overall calendar and our list of achievements, as cricketers, we always wanted to be part of the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. We have always played bilateral series, the ICC World Cup and Asia Cup, but until the previous Asian Games, we didn’t know what it felt like to work hard for a medal. We feel lucky that we are getting these opportunities now. So we just want to take the positives from this.”
In a rematch of the previous edition of the Asian Games, India put up a commanding 216/3 before skittling out Sri Lanka for 69 in 15.4 overs on a ‘hybrid’ pitch that aided spinners.
Smriti Mandhana led the charge with a 45-ball 79, hitting five fours and seven sixes, while Shafali Verma made 48 off 29 balls (3x4; 3x6).
Richa Ghosh then provided the late fireworks, smashing an unbeaten 49 off just 22 balls.
In reply, Sri Lanka struggled to cope with the turning track. Deepti Sharma led India’s spin quartet with 3/6, while Shafali (2/3), Shreyanka Patil (2/9) and Shree Charani (2/13) claimed two wickets apiece.
On a surface that initially offered plenty to the batters, Shafali and Smriti needed little time to settle. Smriti opened her account with consecutive boundaries through point off Sugandika Kumari, and after Mithali Ayodhya kept Shafali quiet for an over, Smriti took the attack back to Sugandika with back-to-back sixes.
The two then cleared the ropes with regularity before Chamudi Praboda broke the partnership, Shafali’s reverse sweep finding Kawya Kavindi at backward point.
But the damage had been done. Smriti appeared set for a century before miscuing a slog sweep off Sugandika Kumari. Richa took over, adding the finishing flourish that lifted India past 200.
Sri Lanka never got going in the chase. Apart from skipper Chamari Athapaththu, who made 29, and Kaushini Nuthyangana (14), none of their batters managed to reach double figures.
As soon as Shreyanka rattled Kaushini Nuthyangana’s stumps to seal the gold, the tricolour began fluttering in the team dugout. Moments later, the players held it aloft in celebration.
BRIEF SCORES: India 216/3 (Mandhana 79, Ghosh 49*, Shafali 48, Praboda 1-34) beat Sri Lanka 69 (Athapaththu 29, Deepti 3-6, Shafali 2-3, Patil 2-9, Charani 2-13) by 147 runs.
But on a sun-kissed Tuesday at the Korogi Sports Park here, Harmanpreet Kaur and her team gave the nearly 500-strong contingent a big reason to celebrate, winning India’s first gold of the Games with a dominant 147-run win, the highest margin of victory by runs in women’s T20 Internationals, over Sri Lanka in the final.
| |
The skipper was delighted that her team had struck India’s first gold.
“It’s a big thing for me because our aim was to take back the gold. More importantly, we wanted to see our flag fly high. We didn’t think we would win the first gold. I’m sure our athletes will win many more gold medals,” Harmanpreet said.
Unlike the other events they play in, there is no trophy to be lifted here. But Harmanpreet was more than happy to trade it for a gold medal .
“When we win trophies, they go to the BCCI office,” she said with a laugh. “The biggest thing for us is to be part of the Games and take back a medal to frame and keep at home,” Harmanpreet said.
The gold was not just a successful defence of a medal. It was a reminder, on an evening when their fellow athletes were scattered across the city and beyond, that the contingent could come together in celebration.
“Looking at the overall calendar and our list of achievements, as cricketers, we always wanted to be part of the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. We have always played bilateral series, the ICC World Cup and Asia Cup, but until the previous Asian Games, we didn’t know what it felt like to work hard for a medal. We feel lucky that we are getting these opportunities now. So we just want to take the positives from this.”
In a rematch of the previous edition of the Asian Games, India put up a commanding 216/3 before skittling out Sri Lanka for 69 in 15.4 overs on a ‘hybrid’ pitch that aided spinners.
Smriti Mandhana led the charge with a 45-ball 79, hitting five fours and seven sixes, while Shafali Verma made 48 off 29 balls (3x4; 3x6).
Richa Ghosh then provided the late fireworks, smashing an unbeaten 49 off just 22 balls.
In reply, Sri Lanka struggled to cope with the turning track. Deepti Sharma led India’s spin quartet with 3/6, while Shafali (2/3), Shreyanka Patil (2/9) and Shree Charani (2/13) claimed two wickets apiece.
On a surface that initially offered plenty to the batters, Shafali and Smriti needed little time to settle. Smriti opened her account with consecutive boundaries through point off Sugandika Kumari, and after Mithali Ayodhya kept Shafali quiet for an over, Smriti took the attack back to Sugandika with back-to-back sixes.
The two then cleared the ropes with regularity before Chamudi Praboda broke the partnership, Shafali’s reverse sweep finding Kawya Kavindi at backward point.
But the damage had been done. Smriti appeared set for a century before miscuing a slog sweep off Sugandika Kumari. Richa took over, adding the finishing flourish that lifted India past 200.
Sri Lanka never got going in the chase. Apart from skipper Chamari Athapaththu, who made 29, and Kaushini Nuthyangana (14), none of their batters managed to reach double figures.
As soon as Shreyanka rattled Kaushini Nuthyangana’s stumps to seal the gold, the tricolour began fluttering in the team dugout. Moments later, the players held it aloft in celebration.
BRIEF SCORES: India 216/3 (Mandhana 79, Ghosh 49*, Shafali 48, Praboda 1-34) beat Sri Lanka 69 (Athapaththu 29, Deepti 3-6, Shafali 2-3, Patil 2-9, Charani 2-13) by 147 runs.
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