West Bengal Sports Minister hails India’s gold in Asian Games women’s cricket

West Bengal Sports Minister Indranil Khan praised the Indian women’s cricket team for winning the gold medal at the Asian Games 2026, describing the achievement as an inspiration to the younger generation. India secured their first gold medal of this edition following a commanding 147-run victory over Sri Lanka in the final on September 22.

India posted 216 for 3 after being asked to bat, with Smriti Mandhana top-scoring with 79 runs from 45 balls, including five fours and seven sixes. Her half-century marked her 37th in T20 internationals, and she became the first woman cricketer to surpass 11,000 runs in international cricket. Shafali Verma contributed a brisk 48 off 29 deliveries, while Richa Ghosh provided a rapid unbeaten 49 from 22 balls, helping India reach a formidable total.

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In response, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 69 in 15.4 overs. Deepti Sharma led the bowling attack with figures of 3 for 6, while Shafali Verma and Shreyanka Patil took two wickets each. Shree Charani also claimed two wickets during the innings.

The 147-run win earned India their second successive Asian Games gold in women’s cricket, having also won the title at Hangzhou in 2023. This victory brought India’s overall tally at the ongoing Games to seven medals, comprising one gold, four silver and two bronze.

Indranil Khan expressed pride in the team’s accomplishment and highlighted West Bengal’s efforts to promote women’s cricket. He specifically praised the performances of Bengal players, including Richa Ghosh, and said the team’s success had increased interest in the sport within the state. Khan added, “Huge congratulations to our women power, to our girls. The way our Indian women brought home the gold at the Asian Games and gave the country its first gold medal in the 2026 Asian Games, we express our gratitude and congratulate them. It is a great privilege for us because our new generation gets to see the Indian women’s team.”

He also stated, “And keeping that in mind, we are also promoting women’s cricket in West Bengal. It is very inspiring and congratulations. And today they played very well. Our Bengal cricketers also played so well today. So our Siliguri didi also played very well, our Richa di, and the way they finished it brilliantly today, India’s score also became very good. So we are all watching women’s cricket now and today in women’s cricket, the way our women bring glory to India, we are very much indebted to our women power. We are waiting to felicitate them.”