Indian women’s cricket team won their first-ever gold medal in the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on this day last year. After Pakistan women clinched consecutive gold medals in the previous two editions in 2010 and 2014, respectively, India Women went on to clinch gold in the third edition. Under the captaincy of Harmanpreet Kaur, India women's cricket team defeated Sri Lanka by 19 runs in the final on September 25, 2023. A few days later, the Indian men’s cricket team also secured gold medal in the 2023 Asian Games.
The campaign in the 2023 Asian Games for Women in Blue with a quarter-final match against Malaysia. Batting first, India Women posted a massive 173/2 in just 15 overs with Shafali Verma top scoring with 67(39) runs hitting four fours and five sixes. However, after just two balls into the second innings, the match was called off due to rain, and India qualified for the semi-finals. In the semi-final, India women registered a dominant eight-wicket victory after bowling Bangladesh out for mere 51 runs, with Pooja Vastrakar registering match-winning figures of 4/17.
India women defeated Sri Lanka in a low-scoring final to clinch 2023 Asian Games gold
The final of the 2023 Asian Games women’s cricket competition was played between India and Sri Lanka at Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field in Hangzhou. Choosing to bat first after winning the toss, India women could only manage to post a total of 116/7 in their 20 overs. Smriti Mandhana top scored with a steady 46(45) runs with the help of four fours and a six, Jemimah Rodrigues scored 42(40) runs, hitting five boundaries.
In the run chase, Sri Lanka women had a poor start as they lost three wickets for just 14 runs in 4.2 overs. After that, the Indian bowlers didn’t let the Sri Lankan batters play freely, restricting them to 97/8 after the end of 20 overs, to secure a gold medal. On the other hand, Sri Lanka women bagged a silver, while Bangladesh women defeated Pakistan by five wickets to win a bronze medal.
