Daijiworld Media Network - Nisshin

Nisshin, Sep 23: The Indian women’s cricket team retained its continental supremacy by winning a second successive gold medal at the Asian Games, defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final at Nisshin in Japan on Tuesday.

Opting to bat first, India posted 216 for three in the stipulated 20 overs, the highest total in Asian Games history. Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 79 off 45 balls, while Richa Ghosh contributed a quickfire 48 off 22 balls.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 69 in 15.4 overs as India completed a commanding victory. The gold is India’s first medal of the ongoing Asian Games and takes the country’s overall medal tally to seven.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian women’s cricket team on its achievement. Describing the victory as a splendid triumph for Indian cricket, Modi said the win had also brought India its first gold medal of the Games. In a social media post, he praised the team’s confidence, skill and teamwork and said its performance had made the nation proud and would inspire young cricketers across the country.

In badminton, the Indian men’s team defeated hosts Japan in the quarterfinals to assure itself of a medal. Lakshya Sen overcame a difficult challenge against world No. 7 and two-time world championships silver medallist Kodai Naraoka.

After losing the opening game and trailing 14-19 in the decider, Sen produced a remarkable comeback by winning seven consecutive points to defeat Naraoka 11-21, 21-5, 21-19 and give India a 1-0 lead.

In the first doubles match, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who have won two titles this season, defeated former world champions Hoki Takuro and Kobayashi Yugo 21-18, 24-22 to extend India’s lead to 2-0.

Ayush Shetty then completed the job with a 21-10, 21-19 victory over world No. 16 Koki Watanabe, sealing India’s place in the semifinals and assuring the team of a medal. India had won silver in the previous edition of the Asian Games.

In wushu, Roshibina Devi also assured India of a medal after defeating Chu Man Sin of Macao 5-0 in the women’s 60kg quarterfinals. The 2018 and 2022 Asian Games medallist has now secured a third continental medal after advancing to the semifinals.

Roshibina will compete in the semifinals on Thursday for a place in the final. She won silver in the Sanda 60kg category at the 2023 Asian Games and had earlier claimed bronze in the same weight category at the 2018 Jakarta Games.

India’s Aryan also advanced to the quarterfinals in the men’s 56kg category after defeating Afghanistan’s Safi Shahzada 2-0 in the pre-quarterfinals.

In boxing, Commonwealth Games silver medallist Jadumani Singh defeated Nepal’s Chandra Bahadur Thapa by a unanimous 5-0 decision in the men’s 55kg preliminary round at the Nishio Gymnasium. Thapa is the reigning World Championships bronze medallist.

Jadumani will face Filipino boxer Carlo Paalam in the pre-quarterfinals on Saturday. Paalam won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Earlier, Glasgow Games gold medallist Sakshi Chaudhary defeated Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aira Villegas of the Philippines 5-0 in the preliminary round to enter the pre-quarterfinals. Sakshi will face current 51kg world champion Alua Balkibekova on Thursday.

In men’s cricket, India narrowly avoided a major upset by defeating hosts Japan by two runs in a rain-shortened, five-overs-a-side one-off T20 International at the Sano International Cricket Ground.

The victory marked India’s 200th win in T20 internationals, including victories achieved through Super Overs. After a delay of nearly two-and-a-half hours because of a wet outfield, India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bat.

Japan’s spinners exploited the conditions effectively and restricted India to 32 for four in five overs. Chasing 33 from 30 balls, Japan came close to pulling off a major upset before India managed to hold on.

Washington Sundar struck twice to check Japan’s momentum, while Axar Patel kept the pressure on with tight and controlled bowling. Japan eventually finished on 30 for three in five overs, falling just two runs short of victory.