Asian Games 2026: India women’s coach Amol Muzumdar hailed the team after their gold medal win and backed them to add more gold medals in NagoyaRead the full story.
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India coach Amol Muzumdar’s big statement after India women’s cricket gold(Photo: BCCI Women)
India women’s cricket team head coach Amol Muzumdar believes the team’s Asian Games 2026 gold medal could be the start of a strong run for the country in NagoyaIndia defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the women’s cricket final on Tuesday to successfully defend their title.
India posted 216/3 after being asked to bat first before bowling Sri Lanka out for just 69The victory also gave India their first gold medal of the 2026 Asian Games.
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Muzumdar delighted with India’s first gold
Muzumdar was delighted after India finally opened their gold-medal account at the Asian GamesHe also backed the country to add more gold medals in the days ahead.
“It’s been fantasticI’m really happy that you know that finally that left-hand side column (Gold) has got one medal and I’m sure post this, there’ll be a streak of Gold medals for India at the Games hereon,” Muzumdar told IANS after India’s second successive Asiad gold.
The triumph came after a busy period for the Indian women’s teamIndia had recently won the Asia Cup in Dubai before travelling to Japan for the Asian Games.
India adapted well to tough conditions
Muzumdar pointed out that the team had to deal with different conditions and a packed schedule during this periodHe praised the players for making the necessary adjustments in Japan.
“Every tournament has got its own significance; every tournament has got its own pressuresThe demands are differentSo I guess it wasn’t easy going into Dubai and winning the Asia CupThe humidity level over there was very high, and the conditions were tough, but you know, hats off to every player; they stuck at it, and they showed very good performance in the Asia Cup in Dubai.
“But coming from Dubai straight into Japan, straight to Tokyo and then to Nagoya, it’s been a fabulous journey for everyoneThere were demands of this tournament as wellWe didn’t know what conditions we would get over hereThere was a hybrid pitch, and they adapted to the pitch conditions and the overhead conditions really well.”
Mandhana, Shafali and Richa power India to 216
India’s batters set up the big win in the finalSmriti Mandhana led the charge with 79 off 45 balls, while Shafali Verma scored 48 from 29 deliveriesRicha Ghosh then provided the late boost with an unbeaten 49 off just 22 balls.
The combined effort helped India post 216/3, the highest total recorded in women’s cricket at the Asian Games.
Muzumdar also explained how the team used the short break between matches to prepare for the knockout stage.
“Yeah, we didWe played a game on 18th, and then we had a break on 19, and then we played the semifinals on the 20thSo we had a couple of days’ break, and we used it really well.”
Bowlers complete a dominant victory
India’s bowlers then finished the job without allowing Sri Lanka to settle into the chaseDeepti Sharma picked up three wickets, while Shafali Verma and Sree Charani took two wickets each.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 69, giving India a massive 147-run victory and back-to-back Asian Games gold medals in women’s cricket.
Muzumdar enjoys India’s Japan campaign
Apart from the cricket, Muzumdar also spoke about his experience in JapanThe India coach said he enjoyed the hospitality and local food during the team’s stay.
“I enjoyed JapanI thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality and the food hereI’m a foodie, as I said before, so I enjoyed the food here tooWe explored the city and the foodIt’s been fantastic so far in Japan.”
Muzumdar also credited the players and support staff for the hard work that went into the campaignHe said the preparation had started well before the Asian Games.
“Every tournament is differentThe pressures are differentSo the celebrations also would be differentSo, you know, we would enjoy ourselves; the girls have really worked hardThey’ve put in a lot of effortThis campaign didn’t start on the first day of this tournamentIt started way backAs soon as we came back from England, we had a superb camp, so the hard work started then, and the celebrations will follow as well.”
