India, Sept. 22 -- Four days into the Asian Games 2026, India have clinched their first gold medal, with the women's cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, delivering the result with a thumping 147-run win over Sri Lanka in the final. In a repeat of the 2023 final, the Indian batters put on quite the show, with Smriti Mandhana top-scoring with 79 as India posted a strong 216/3. Sri Lanka, in response, were bundled out for 69.

India had already defeated Sri Lanka three years ago in Hangzhou and, more recently, in last week's Asia Cup final, before making it three wins in a row against them in big-ticket multi-nation finals. The win takes India's medal tally to 7, after Suchika Tariyal's MMA bronze and five from shooting.

Smriti Mandhana'...