Indian Women's Cricket Team Secures Gold at Asian Games 2026, Celebrating Local Star Bharti Fulmali
Historic Victory for Indian Women's Cricket
Amravati (Maharashtra) [India], September 23: The Indian women's cricket team has made history by clinching the gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, a moment of immense pride for Amravati, especially with local player Bharti Fulmali being part of the squad, as noted by her coach Sandip Gawande.
In a thrilling final, India triumphed over Sri Lanka by 147 runs, marking their second consecutive gold medal at the Asian Games and securing the nation's first gold of the current event.
Coach Sandip Gawande expressed his joy, stating that the team's success is a source of national pride, particularly highlighting Fulmali's remarkable journey from a young talent to an international player.
Gawande remarked, “It brings great joy to all of India that the women's cricket team has won gold; having Bharti Fulmali from Amravati in the squad makes this achievement even more special for our community.”
Reflecting on Fulmali's cricketing path, he shared, “She has been playing since she was 12 and has consistently excelled for both Vidarbha and India.”
Fulmali, who plays for Vidarbha in domestic competitions, is also a member of the Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Gawande praised her as a powerful batter known for her ability to score quickly.
“She is recognized for her hard-hitting style, capable of making quick runs off limited balls,” he added.
In a repeat of the gold-medal match from Hangzhou 2023, India successfully defended their title against Sri Lanka, who took home the silver medal for the second time in a row. Pakistan secured the bronze after defeating Bangladesh in the earlier playoff.
Deepti Sharma was a standout performer, achieving remarkable bowling figures of 3/6, while Shafali Verma, Shree Charani, and Shreyanka Patil contributed with two wickets each, showcasing a dominant bowling display.
Final scores: India Women 216/3 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 79, Richa Ghosh 49 not out; Chamudi Praboda 1/34) defeated Sri Lanka 69/10 in 15.4 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 29; Deepti Sharma 3/6) by 147 runs.