NEW DELHI: India finally opened its gold-medal account at the Asian Games 2026 on Tuesday as Harmanpreet Kaur-led side successfully defended its women’s cricket title, beating Sri Lanka in the final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin.The emphatic victory took India’s medal tally to seven — one gold, four silver and two bronze — and moved the country to eighth place in the medal standings at the end of Tuesday’s action.India’s first gold in Aichi-Nagoya came after the defending champions produced a dominant all-round performance. After opting to bat, India posted a mammoth 216/3 before bowling Sri Lanka out for just 69 to complete a commanding 147-run victory.Asian Games Full Coverage | Schedule | Medals TallyThe result also marked India’s second women’s cricket gold at the Asian Games. India had won the title when the sport returned to the Games in Hangzhou in 2023, while the country did not participate when cricket featured at the 2010 and 2014 editions.Pakistan, meanwhile, also have two women’s cricket gold medals, having won the inaugural women’s events in 2010 and 2014.
India finally adds gold to seven-medal haul
India had begun its Asian Games campaign with two shooting silver medals before adding three more shooting medals and a historic MMA bronze on Day 2.The women’s cricket gold now gives the Indian contingent a medal distribution of one gold, four silver and two bronze. The medal tally is expected to grow further, with India having assured itself of medals in men’s badminton and wushu.The men’s badminton team booked a semifinal place with a 3-0 victory over Japan, while Roshibina Devi reached the women’s Sanda 60kg semifinals to guarantee at least a bronze.India’s men’s hockey side also strengthened its campaign with a stunning 16-1 victory over Sri Lanka, adding to its 13-1 win over Indonesia in the opening Pool A match.The men’s cricket competition will begin later in the Games. The Shreyas Iyer-led Indian side is scheduled to enter the competition directly in the second quarterfinal on September 28. India are also the defending men’s Asian Games champions.
China continue to lead, Japan second
China continued to occupy the top position in the medal standings, with Japan in second and South Korea third.China’s dominance has been particularly visible in swimming, where 13-year-old Yu Zidi has emerged as one of the stars of the Games. Hosts Japan also celebrated a teenage swimming sensation, with 17-year-old Yumeki Kojima winning the men’s 400m individual medley in a Games-record 4:07.02.China also added more gold through its shooters, with Olympic champion Sheng Lihao combining with Wang Zifei to win the 10m air rifle mixed team event with a world-record score of 507.1.Afghanistan also celebrated a historic medal after Fariba Hashimi won silver in the women’s road race, becoming the country’s first female Asian Games medallist in cycling.
Asian Games 2026 Medal Tally after Day 3
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | China | 32 | 13 | 8 | 53 |
| 2 | Japan | 11 | 16 | 19 | 46 |
| 3 | South Korea | 6 | 4 | 17 | 27 |
| 4 | Kazakhstan | 6 | 1 | 5 | 12 |
| 5 | Thailand | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 6 | Hong Kong, China | 3 | 5 | 4 | 12 |
| 7 | Tajikistan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 8 | INDIA | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| 9 | Uzbekistan | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| 10 | Chinese Taipei | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
