The Indian women's cricket team clinched back-to-back Asian Games gold medals with a commanding 147-run victory over Sri Lanka at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan on Tuesday, 23 September 2026, successfully defending the title they first won at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. The triumph also made it two successive wins over Sri Lanka following India's victory in the Asia Cup 2026 final in Dubai earlier this month.

Harmanpreet hails dominant team effort

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur called it a deeply personal and collective achievement, crediting every member of the squad for setting — and consistently meeting — high standards throughout the campaign. 'The gold medal platform has opened. Our first gold medal has arrived. It's a very special feeling. Ever since we arrived in Japan and started preparing for the Asian Games, we had only one goal in mind — to win the gold medal. So this day is a very special day for us,' she said.

Harmanpreet noted that the team's dominant approach had been evident from the start of the Asia Cup. 'Ever since the Asia Cup began, everyone wanted to set some standards and match them every day. The way the team played throughout the tournament, it was a very dominating performance. As a captain, it was a very good thing for me that everyone contributed so well and gave outstanding performances,' she added. Her remarks were shared via BCCI's social media accounts on Wednesday.

Smriti: a strong response to World Cup disappointment

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana framed the double success as a vital confidence-restoring run following an early exit from the T20 World Cup in England earlier this year. 'The last one in China was a pretty special one. Here again in Japan, I'm very proud to see the tricolour going high and the national anthem playing — I think it's a very proud moment,' she said.

Mandhana was candid about the road ahead. 'After a disappointing World Cup, it's good to come back in winning ways. The Asia Cup and Asian Games are important tournaments, but we'll have to keep doing this against better opponents,' she acknowledged, insisting that the team's ambitions go well beyond regional titles.

Shafali completes childhood dream with T20I century

Opener Shafali Verma had extra reason to celebrate after registering a long-awaited T20 International century in the semi-final against Bangladesh — a milestone she had been chasing since her debut in 2019. 'When I started playing in my childhood, my favourite format was T20. I think it was my childhood dream to score a hundred whenever I debut for the Indian team. I made my debut in 2019 and since then, I've been manifesting that I want to score a hundred in T20,' she said.

'It took me a long time to get the hundred, but I'm happy and glad it came. It's the best feeling to go on the podium and wear that gold medal around my neck. When I saw my country's flag flying high, I was so very happy,' Verma added. The century cemented her status as one of the most electric T20 openers in the women's game.

Deepti points to consistency as India's defining trait

All-rounder Deepti Sharma summed up the team's back-to-back gold medals as proof of a winning culture that now defines Indian women's cricket. 'If I talk about the first year, we won the gold medal then as well. This year also, consistency is the key, which Team India always delivers. We prepared for this moment and at the end, we won the gold medal. So it feels really good. I'm so happy to have won the first gold medal of 2026 for India. It's a very proud moment,' she said.

Captain Harmanpreet also extended her wishes to the broader Indian contingent in Japan, expressing hope that the team's success would inspire maximum gold medals across all sports at the Games. India's women's cricket team now heads into a more demanding phase of international fixtures, with the benchmark of two consecutive regional titles firmly established.