The Indian women’s cricket team sealed the gold medal in the Asian Games 2023, in China, with their win over Sri Lanka in the final on Monday.
India opener and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was one of the heroes of India’s win in the final as she top-scored with 46 runs on a really tough pitch to bat on at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field in Hangzhou. India scored 116/7, in reply to which, Sri Lanka managed 97/8 in 20 overs, India winning by a small margin of 19 runs, and picking up a Gold Medal in India’s first-ever participation in cricket in the Asian Games.
Smriti Mandhana had captained India in the quarter-final vs Malaysia and semi-final vs Bangladesh as regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur was suspended after her burst out against Bangladesh earlier this year. Kaur returned to lead in the final.
We have seen when Neeraj Chopra won the Gold: Smriti Mandhana
India’s national anthem was played after the players were honored with the gold medals in the medal ceremony. Mandhana said that she had gotten emotional that moment and even cried. She also said Olympic Gold Medalist Neeraj Chopra has been an example for her and her team.
“I had tears in my eyes when the national flag went up during the national anthem – this is very special, we have seen when Neeraj Chopra won the Gold, so happy to contribute the country with the medal,” Mandhana told ANI.
The 27-year-old Smriti Mandhana had scored only 34 runs in the previous two innings in the knockouts. However, on a really tough pitch in the final, she carried India’s innings to score 46 runs in 45 balls while youngster Jemimah Rodrigues also batted brilliantly to score 42 runs in 40 balls. No other Indian batter got into double figures.
With the ball for India, 18-year-old Titas Sadhu struck thrice early on, including the wicket of Chamari Athapaththu that all but sealed the gold medal for India. Rajeshwari Gayakwad took two wickets.
