India produced a significant performance at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on September 22, with the women’s cricket team winning the country’s first gold medal of the Games and the men’s badminton team assuring another medal.
The Indian women’s cricket team defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the gold medal match. India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, won the toss and elected to bat. The team produced a strong batting performance, scoring 216 for three in 20 overs. Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 79 runs from 45 balls, while Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh also made important contributions.
Sri Lanka struggled during the chase and were bowled out for 69 in 15.4 overs. Deepti Sharma was one of India's key performers with the ball, taking three wickets. India completed a 147-run victory to claim the women's cricket gold medal.
The victory also means India retained the women's cricket gold medal at the Asian Games. The Indian women's team had previously won gold in the event at the 2022 Asian Games. The latest victory gives India its first gold medal of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games.
India also secured a medal in men's team badminton. The Indian men's badminton team defeated hosts Japan 3-0 in the quarterfinals to book a place in the semifinals. The result automatically assures India of at least a bronze medal in the team competition.
Lakshya Sen played an important role in India's quarterfinal victory, while the team also received strong contributions from its doubles and singles players. India entered the match against Japan after progressing through the earlier stages of the team competition. The semifinal appearance gives the Indian men's team another opportunity to compete for a higher medal.
The men's badminton team had won silver at the previous Asian Games, making the latest semifinal qualification another significant result for the Indian contingent.
The women's badminton team, however, had a different outcome. The PV Sindhu-led Indian team lost 1-3 to Japan in the quarterfinal. India had started its campaign with a 3-0 victory over Kazakhstan, but the team could not overcome the hosts in the last eight.
PV Sindhu faced Akane Yamaguchi in the opening singles match, while Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma were also involved in the singles ties. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand secured India's only match victory in the quarterfinal through their doubles encounter. Japan eventually won the tie 3-1 and advanced to the semifinals.
Apart from cricket and badminton, Indian athletes have been competing across several sports on September 22. Hockey, wushu, fencing, swimming, boxing, kabaddi, table tennis, shooting, soft tennis and equestrian events are among the competitions involving Indian athletes.
The Indian men's hockey team is scheduled to face Sri Lanka in a Pool A match at 3:30 PM IST. The result will be part of India's ongoing campaign in the hockey competition.
Wushu is another sport attracting attention, with Roshibina Devi scheduled to compete in the women's Sanda 60kg quarterfinal and Aryan competing in the men's Sanda 56kg quarterfinal. Both athletes are among India's medal contenders in the combat sport.
Swimming also has an Indian medal event scheduled, with the men's 4x100m medley relay involving Rohit Benediction, Danush Suresh, Rishabh Das and Akash Mani, subject to qualification. Fencing competitors including Taniksha Khatri, Mitva Jesangbhai Chaudhari, Sachin and Sanasam Hemash Singh are also scheduled to compete in individual events.
India's kabaddi team is also in action during the day's schedule. The men's team recorded a 63-31 victory over South Korea in Group A, continuing its campaign in the competition.
The day's results are particularly important for India's overall medal campaign. Before the cricket final, India had already collected six medals during the Games, including medals from shooting. The women's cricket gold and the assured men's badminton medal have added to India's medal tally on September 22.
The Asian Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with Indian athletes competing across a wide range of disciplines. With several knockout rounds and medal events scheduled during the day, India's medal tally could change further as competition continues.
The men's badminton semifinal will be closely followed after India's 3-0 quarterfinal victory over Japan. The team is assured of a medal, but the final colour of the medal will depend on the result of its semifinal and subsequent matches.
For Indian fans, the September 22 schedule has already produced two major developments. The women's cricket team has secured the gold medal after a commanding win over Sri Lanka, while the men's badminton team has entered the semifinals and guaranteed India another medal.
Further Indian participation continues across hockey, wushu, fencing, swimming, boxing, kabaddi, table tennis and other disciplines as the fourth day of the Asian Games progresses.