The Indian Women’s Cricket team reasserted its continental dominance by clinching a second successive gold medal at the Asian Games, thrashing Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final at Nisshin in Japan today. Opting to bat, India posted 216 for the loss of three wickets in the stipulated 20 overs, the highest total in Asian Games history, riding on Smriti Mandhana’s 79 runs off 45 balls and Richa Ghosh’s 48 off 22. In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 69 in 15.4 overs. This is India’s first gold medal at the ongoing Asiad and overall seventh medal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Women’s Cricket Team on the feat. Calling it a splendid triumph for Indian cricket, Mr Modi said that this victory also brings India its first Gold of this edition of the Games. In a social media post, he said that it was a commanding performance marked by confidence, skill, and wonderful teamwork. The Prime Minister said that the team has made the nation proud and will inspire countless young cricketers across the country.

Indian men’s Badminton team defeated hosts Japan in the quarterfinals and assured itself of a medal at the Asian Games. Lakshya Sen was staring at defeat after losing the opening game and trailing 14-19 in the decider. However, Lakshya made a comeback, reeling off seven straight points to beat world No.7 and two-time world championships silver-medallist Kodai Naraoka 11-21, 21-5, 21-19 to give India a 1-0 lead. Playing the first doubles, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who have won two titles this season, registered a 21-18, 24-22 win over former world champions Hoki Takuro and Kobayashi Yugo to extend India’s lead to 2-0. Ayush Shetty then produced an impressive performance to see off world no. 16 Koki Watanabe 21-10 21-19 to seal the match and a medal for India.  The Indian men were the silver-medallists of the last edition.