India women's cricket gold: IOA chief PT Usha hails Asian Games 2026 triumph
Synopsis
India's women's cricket team defended their Asian Games gold with a 147-run demolition in Aichi-Nagoya — and IOA president PT Usha revealed she personally pushed for cricket's inclusion in the 2026 Asiad programme. This is India's first gold of these Games and seventh overall at the Asiad, with Smriti Mandhana's 79 and nine shared wickets making it a complete team performance.
Key Takeaways
IOA president PT Usha called India's women's cricket gold at the Asian Games 2026 a 'proud moment' on 22 September 2026 .
India beat their opponents by 147 runs in the final, posting a record 216/3 .
Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 79 ; Deepti Sharma , Shafali Verma , Shreyanka Patil , and Sree Charani shared 9 wickets .
This is India's first gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asiad and seventh overall at the Asian Games.
PT Usha revealed she personally requested the Japan organising committee to include cricket in the 2026 Games .
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha on 22 September 2026 praised the Indian women's cricket team for clinching the gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, calling it a proud moment and expressing confidence that India would secure many more gold medals at the ongoing Asiad. The Women in Blue successfully defended their title with a commanding 147-run victory in the final.
PT Usha's Reaction
'I'm happy that the cricketers won the gold medal and we will get more gold medals, no doubt,' PT Usha said. 'I requested the Japan Asian Games organising committee coordination committee to add men's and women's cricket in the Games. I wanted to see the cricket, and I am happy that the players have won a gold medal, a proud moment,' she added.
The IOA president also confirmed she would be meeting the women's cricket team following their triumph, noting she had watched the game live at the venue. 'I could not meet them earlier here; we have met many times previously. But I'll meet them here too. I saw the game here when they were playing,' she said.
India's Dominant Final Performance
Smriti Mandhana's blistering 79 anchored India to a record total of 216/3 in the final. In reply, the opposition were dismantled by a collective bowling effort — Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma, Shreyanka Patil, and Sree Charani shared nine wickets between them to seal the 147-run win.
Historic Gold and Title Defence
This victory marks India's first gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 and their seventh overall gold at the Asiad. Notably, the Women in Blue had also won gold at the previous edition — the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games — and have now successfully defended their title against the same opposition, cementing their dominance in Asian women's cricket.
Cricket's Place at the Asian Games
PT Usha's disclosure that she personally lobbied for cricket's inclusion in the 2026 Asiad highlights the IOA's proactive role in shaping the Games programme. Cricket was part of the Hangzhou 2023 edition, and its continuation in Aichi-Nagoya reflects growing recognition of the sport's reach across the continent. The inclusion of both men's and women's cricket at successive Asian Games could have longer-term implications for the sport's multi-event calendar.
Point of View
Having now won back-to-back Asian Games titles. PT Usha's disclosure that she lobbied for cricket's inclusion raises a question mainstream coverage ignores: how much of the sport's multi-event presence depends on individual advocacy rather than institutional frameworks? With men's cricket yet to match this record at the Asiad, the women's programme is quietly carrying the flag. If this gold triggers a broader push for Asian Games cricket permanence, it could reshape how BCCI and ICC engage with the Olympic movement.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did India win gold in cricket at the Asian Games 2026?
Yes, the Indian women's cricket team won the gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, defeating their opponents by 147 runs in the final on 22 September 2026. This is India's first gold of the current Games and their seventh overall at the Asian Games.
What did PT Usha say about the Indian women's cricket team's gold medal?
IOA president PT Usha called the victory a 'proud moment' and said she had no doubt India would win more gold medals at the ongoing Asiad. She also revealed she had personally requested the Japan Asian Games organising committee to include both men's and women's cricket in the 2026 Games.
How did India perform in the final of women's cricket at Asian Games 2026?
India posted a record 216/3 in the final, led by Smriti Mandhana's 79. Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma, Shreyanka Patil, and Sree Charani then shared nine wickets to bowl out the opposition and seal a 147-run victory.
Have India defended their Asian Games women's cricket title?
Yes, India had won the women's cricket gold at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games and have successfully defended that title at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 edition, beating the same team in both finals.
How many gold medals has India won at the Asian Games overall?
With this cricket gold, India's overall tally stands at seven gold medals at the Asian Games. This is their first gold at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya edition.
