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 11:16 AM IST
Table Tennis, Men's Team Round of 16: Manav Thakkar loses; India bows with a 0-3 defeat to Korea
India handed in their third consecutive defeat in the pre-quarterfinal tie against South Korea, ending their campaign.
Manav Thakkar, playing in the third singles, couldn't find a win for the team and lost to An Jaehyun in four games, 10-12, 6-11, 11-7, 10-12.
With this, India lost the tie 0-3 as Harmeet Desai and Manush Shah had also faced defeats in their respective matches.
- 22 Sept 2026 11:03 AM IST
Fencing, Men's Foil Individual Round of 32: Hemash Singh and Sachin bow out in round of 32
Hemash Singh lost to Kazakhstan's Galim Nurumov of Kazakhstan 9-15, and Sachin went down 9-15 to Timofey Semyonov of Kazakhstan.
Hemansh will be rueing this result, especially after having a 6-5 lead at the end of proid one, but then he couldn't hold on; the Kazakh bounced back with solid last two rounds.
These defeats ended their competition in the individual event.
- 22 Sept 2026 10:39 AM IST
Table Tennis, Men's Team Round of 16: Manush Shah falls short of world. 23! India 0-2 Korea
Manush Shah fought bravely but went down in five games to world-ranked 23 Oh Junsung, and India went down 0-2 to South Korea in the tie.
Earlier, India had lost the first match when Harmeet lost to Jang Woojin in four games, 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 9-11.
Manush had a 2-1 lead in the match and was even leading 4-1 in the decider, but he couldn't really find that final win and lost 2-3, 4-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-13, 6-11.
Now, India's fortune lies on the shoulders of Manav Thakkar, who will be up against An Jaehyun in a must-win match.
- 22 Sept 2026 10:11 AM IST
Badminton, Women’s Team quarterfinal: India knocked out 1-3 in quarters
Match 1: PV Sindhu lost to Akane Yamaguchi 23-21, 18-21, 11-21
Match 2: Unnati Hooda lose to Tomoka Miyazaki 16-21, 18-21,
Match 3: Treesa Jolly/ Gayatri Gopichand beat Yuki Fukushima/ Mayu Matsumoto 21-17, 21-16.
Match 4: Tanvi Sharma lost to Nozomi Okuhara 12-21, 10-21
- 22 Sept 2026 10:06 AM IST
Karate, Women's Kumite 55Kg Round of 16: Alisha Choudhry loses 1-6 to Cok Istri; bows out of medal matches
The reigning Asian Champion Alisha Choudhary had a poor start on her debut at the Asian Games,
She lost 1-6 in the round of 16 to Cok Istri Sanistyarani of Indonesia, conceding three Yuko and an ippon, and could only score one Yuko for herself.
She will not have a repechage as well because the Indonesian didn't reach the final and lost to Iran player in the semis.
This ends India's Karate campaign in Aichi-Nagoya, as Chetan Bhatt has already bowed out, losing in the men's 84Kg bronze medal bout.
- 22 Sept 2026 10:04 AM IST
Badminton, Women’s Team quarterfinal: Tanvi lose in straight games
Tanvi Sharma lost 12-21, 10-21 against Nozomi Okuhara in the fourth match of India vs Japan. India is 1-3 in the tie.
- 22 Sept 2026 9:56 AM IST
Badminton, Women’s Team quarterfinal: Tanvi trailing
Tanvi Sharma is trailing 12-21, 5-11 so far against Nozomi Okuhara in the fourth match of India vs Japan.
- 22 Sept 2026 9:52 AM IST
Swimming, Men's 4x100m Medley Relay: India advances to the final with a 7th-place finish
Indian 4x100m medley relay team clocked a good time of 3.40.41s in the heats to qualify for the final, finishing in 7th place.
The quartet of Rishabh Das, Akash Mani, Rohit Benediction and Dhanush Suresh missed out on the Indian national record of 3.40.20s but will target that in the final.
The final will take place later in the day.
- 22 Sept 2026 9:39 AM IST
Badminton, Women’s Team quarterfinal: Treesa-Gayatri win
Indian women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand get the better of Japan's Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto in straight games 21-17, 21-16.
India is now trailing 1-2 in the tie.
- 22 Sept 2026 9:38 AM IST
Table Tennis, Women's Team Round of 16: Sreeja Akula wins! India advances to the quarters
Sreeja Akula defeated Suthasini Sawettabutt in the final match of the tie to hand India a 3-2 win over Thailand in the round of 16.
She came from behind in the fourth game, trailing 6-8 and won five straight points to clinch the match (9-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8) and the tie.
Yashaswini Ghorpade was the star of the Indian team once again, winning both her matches in the tie.
India will next take on North Korea in the quarterfinals later in the evening.
