India Retains Women’s Cricket Gold — Asian Games 2026

India Retains Women’s Cricket Gold — Asian Games 2026
Why in News?
The Indian women’s cricket team retained the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Japan.
India’s Gold Medal Defence
•    India had won the women’s cricket gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. 
•    By winning again in 2026, India became the second team after Pakistan to successfully defend the women’s cricket gold at the Asian Games. 
•    India had not participated in Asian Games cricket before the 2023 Hangzhou Games. 
Record-Breaking Final
Smriti Mandhana: Scored 79 runs with 5 fours and 7 sixes and completed 11,000 career runs. 
•    Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana: Their 99-run opening partnership made them the first pair to reach 4,000 combined T20I runs. 
•    Richa Ghosh: Scored 49 off 22 balls after being promoted to No. 4. 
•    India’s 216/3 became the highest women’s T20I total at the Asian Games across four editions. 
•    India’s 147-run victory became their highest-ever win by runs in women’s T20Is, surpassing their 144-run victory over Malaysia in 2018. 
Shafali Verma’s Milestones
Shafali had a particularly notable Asian Games campaign.
•    Became India's highest six-hitter in T20Is, surpassing Smriti Mandhana. 
•    Scored her maiden international century in the semi-final against Bangladesh. 
•    Became the first woman to score an international century at the Asian Games. 
Cricket at the Asian Games
•    Cricket was introduced at the Asian Games in 2010. 
•    It has featured in every edition since except 2018. 
•    India first participated in Asian Games cricket at Hangzhou 2023. 
•    India won the women's cricket gold in 2023 and 2026. 
•    Pakistan (2010, 2014) and India (2023, 2026) are the teams that have successfully defended the women's cricket gold.