Asian Games
Asian Games 2026: Women's cricket brings India's first gold - Highlights
Highlights from Asian Games 2026 on September 22, with India in action in cricket, badminton, shooting, hockey, table tennis, kabaddi, boxing, wushu and more.
Asian Games 2026 LIVE: India eye cricket gold – Blog, updates (Photo credit: PTI)
India finally opened its gold medal account at the Asian Games 2026 on September 22, with the women’s cricket team beating Sri Lanka by 147 runs to retain the title.
Batting first, India posted 216, powered by a 99-run opening stand between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, followed by a late assault from Richa Ghosh. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 69 in 15.4 overs, with India’s spinners sharing the wickets.
Badminton provided another major boost as India’s men’s team secured a medal by beating Japan 3-0 in the quarterfinals. Lakshya Sen began the tie with a three-game win over Kodai Naraoka before Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated former world champions Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi. Ayush Shetty then sealed the tie against Koki Watanabe.
On the hockey field, India’s men produced another dominant display, defeating Sri Lanka 16-1. Jugraj Singh scored four goals while Abhishek added three.
Wushu also added to India’s medal tally, with Roshibina Devi reaching the podium in the women’s 60kg category. In boxing, Sakshi Chaudhary defeated 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Aira Villegas 5-0, while Jadumani Singh also began his campaign with a unanimous win.
There were setbacks too. Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Rakesh Mane finished fourth in the mixed 10m air rifle, while India’s women’s badminton team lost 1-3 to Japan in the quarterfinals. The women’s table tennis team also bowed out after losing 0-3 to North Korea in the last eight.
India’s men’s badminton medal ensures another podium finish, while several other events remain in contention as the Games continue.
Highlights:
Live Updates
- 22 Sept 2026 6:06 AM IST
Soft Tennis, Women's Singles: Aadhya Tiwari LOSES!
Not the best of starts for Aadhya Tiwari's women's singles campaign. She goes down 4-1, 0-4, 0-4, 2-4, 4-6 to Thailand's Alisha Ziegler after winning the opening game.
She'll be back in action against Pakistan's Kainaat Shallwani later in the day.
- 22 Sept 2026 6:03 AM IST
Badminton, Women’s Team quarterfinal: Sindhu take court in women's singles
PV Sindhu, World No. 11, will take on World No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi in what promises to be a mouth-watering contest.
- 22 Sept 2026 6:00 AM IST
Badminton, Women’s Team quarterfinal: India vs Japan LINE UP!
Match 1: PV Sindhu v Akane Yamaguchi
Match 2: Unnati Hooda v Tomoka Miyazaki
Match 3: Treesa Jolly/ Gayatri Gopichand v Yuki Fukushima/ Mayu Matsumoto
Match 4: Tanvi Sharma v Nozomi Okuhara
Match 5: Tanisha Crasto/ PV Sindhu v Rin Uesaka/ Kie Nakanishi
- 22 Sept 2026 5:57 AM IST
Equestrian, Dressage: India start campaign
The equestrian action starts at the 2026 Asian Games today. It is a delayed start with the event pushed back for a bit due to the typhoon warning in Japan.
In action for India right now are Fouuad Mirza riding on Camouflage 38, Ashish Limaye on Willy De Dun, and Arjan Singh Nagra on Cooley Goodwood in Dressage.
Their combined scores will also see the medals for Dressage Team be decided!
- 22 Sept 2026 5:57 AM IST
Rowers in a mix of last-minute selection
Indian rowers say they were moved between events just two days before competition, leaving athletes frustrated and uncertain.
Read here.
- 22 Sept 2026 5:40 AM IST
Sepak Takraw, Men's Team Regu: India Vs Malaysia
The Indian men lost a close tie 1-2 to hosts Japan after being in a position of advantage. They will now take on Malaysia in their second group stage tie.
- 22 Sept 2026 5:37 AM IST
Soft Tennis, Women's Singles: Aadya Tiwari in action
A day after her mixed doubles exit alongside Jay Meena, Aadya Tiwari returns for singles action. She starts the her group stage campaign against Thailand's Alisha Ziegler!
- 22 Sept 2026 5:26 AM IST
September 22 recap
Indian atheltes pocketed four medals from shooting and MMA.
Himanshu Dhillon won silver and Rudrankksh Patil claimed bronze in the men’s 10m air rifle individual event, giving India its first-ever double podium finish in the event at the Asian Games. The duo alonwith Parth Mane also won the team silver.
Suchika Tariyal won bronze in the women’s 60kg Traditional category. India now has six medals (four silver and two bronze) and is 12th in the medals standings.
