Smriti Mandhana scored an explosive 79 as India posted 216/3 in the women's cricket gold medal match against Sri Lanka, while the men's kabaddi team secured a 63-31 win over South Korea.
Defending champions India posted a total of 216/3 after opting to bat against Sri Lanka in the women's cricket T20 gold medal match at the Asian Games in Nagoya. Opener Smriti Mandhana led the effort with a 45-ball 79, smashing seven sixes and four fours. Mandhana shared a 99-run opening partnership with Shafali Verma (48) before being dismissed in the 17th over, while wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh provided a late boost with an unbeaten 49 off 22 balls.
In the men's kabaddi competition, India continued its dominant run in Group A with a 63-31 victory over South Korea. The win represents the second victory for the defending champions, keeping them at the top of Group A.
India suffered a setback in the women's badminton quarterfinals, falling 1-3 to Japan. Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu dropped the opening singles match to world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi 23-21, 18-21, 6-21. Although the World Championships bronze-winning doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand produced a clinical win, India's singles players faltered to end their team campaign.
In men's sepaktakraw, India suffered a 0-3 loss to Malaysia in the team regu event following an earlier 1-2 defeat to Japan. Malaysia claimed a 2-1 (15-13, 11-15, 15-6) advantage in the opening match before sweeping the remaining two matches 2-0 (15-9, 15-12) and 2-0 (15-11, 15-5). India will next face the Philippines in their final preliminary Group B tie.
Looking ahead, star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu will compete in the women's 49kg category on Wednesday as she seeks her first Asian Games medal. With Chinese lifters absent, her primary challenge comes from reigning world and Asian Games champion Ri Song Gum of North Korea. Elsewhere at the Games, 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi set the fastest time in the world this year in the medley (2:06.10), missing the world record by just 0.40 seconds.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Sport. Photo courtesy The Hindu Sport.