'Women's game is ready to command the biggest multi-sport stages' - ICC Chairman Jay Shah after Asian Games final

India Women claimed gold at the 2026 Asian Games on September 22 after defeating Sri Lanka Women by 147 runs in the final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi, Japan. The result gave India back-to-back gold medals in the event, having also beaten Sri Lanka in the 2023 Asian Games final in Hangzhou.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah took to X to congratulate the side and made a pointed remark about the future of women's cricket, with the Olympics coming up in 2028 in Los Angeles.

"Congratulations to India women's team for winning the Asian Games gold! And well played Sri Lanka on clinching silver in Japan after a strong campaign. As we look ahead to cricket's return to the Olympics at #LA28, spectacles like this prove that the women's game is ready to command the biggest multi-sport stages," Shah wrote.

Jay Shah@JayShah

Congratulations to India women’s team for winning the Asian Games gold! And well played Sri Lanka on clinching silver in Japan after a strong campaign. As we look ahead to cricket’s return to the Olympics at #LA28, spectacles like this prove that the women's game is ready to

03:21 PM · Sep 22, 2026

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Devajit Saikia reacts to India's gold

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia also offered his congratulations to the Indian women's team on X, not just for the Women's Asian Games triumph but also their success at the preceding Asia Cup.

"Heartiest congratulations to our Women's Team @BCCIWomen on winning Gold at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya! Back-to-back Asian Games Gold medals — a remarkable achievement and a truly proud moment for Indian cricket. After a dominant Asia Cup campaign in Dubai , the team carried that winning momentum into Nagoya, playing with confidence, flair and determination throughout. Congratulations to each member of Women's Team , both players and support staff. You have made the nation proud once again!" Saikia said.

The women's cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games ran from September 17 to September 22 at Korogi Sports Park, with eight teams competing in Twenty20 format. The gold medal was also India's first gold of the 2026 Asian Games overall.

Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat in the final. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave India a flying start with a 99-run opening stand. Mandhana struck seven sixes and five fours on her way to 79 off 45 balls, while Verma contributed 48 off 29 balls. Richa Ghosh then provided the finishing flourish with 49 not out off 22 balls, lifting India to 216/3 in 20 overs, the highest total recorded in a women's Asian Games cricket match.

Sri Lanka's chase never gained traction. Their highest scorer, Chamari Athapaththu, made 29 off 21 balls before Deepti Sharma removed her just after the powerplay. Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 69 in 15.4 overs, a total that was only two runs more than what India had scored in their powerplay alone. All ten Sri Lanka wickets fell to spin.

Deepti finished with figures of 3/6, the best bowling performance of the match. Shafali Verma, Shree Charani and Shreyanka Patil each took two wickets to complete the rout. The 147-run winning margin underlined the gulf between the two sides on the day.

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The result also extended India's dominance over Sri Lanka in recent bilateral finals. Sri Lanka had lost to India in the Asia Cup final in Dubai within the ten days preceding the Asian Games decider, making it two consecutive final defeats in a short period. Pakistan claimed the bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Games after defeating Bangladesh in the third-place playoff earlier on September 22.