India Women’s Asian Games 2026 campaign begins as two defending champion Indian teams compete for gold in Japan, but cricket and kabaddi fixtures will have separate schedules. India women’s cricket team in Japan will defend the cricket gold medal won at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, while the Indian women’s kabaddi team, led by Pushpa Rana, will begin its title defence later in the tournament.
India Women’s cricket team arrives shortly after their successful Women’s Asia Cup win in Dubai. India enter the Asian Games as one of the leading contenders for the cricket gold medal and will begin their campaign directly in the quarter-finals.
India Women Cricket Team Begin Asian Games Campaign
India have been placed among the top seeded teams alongside Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. As a result, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side has received direct entry into the quarter finals.
India will face hosts Japan on September 18 at the Aichi Prefectural Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. The match will be an important first step in India’s attempt to retain the gold medal they won in Hangzhou.
The India Women Asian Games squad features a strong mix of experienced international players and younger talent. Harmanpreet will lead the side, with Smriti Mandhana serving as vice-captain. Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal and Bharti Fulmali form part of the batting group.
Richa Ghosh and G. Kamalini are the wicketkeeping options, while Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil are the all rounders. The bowling group includes Renuka Singh, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, Sree Charani and Nandani Sharma.
Jemimah Rodrigues will miss the competition after being ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained before the Asia Cup. Shreyanka Patil’s availability is also subject to fitness clearance.
India Women’s Kabaddi Team Targets Gold
The kabaddi campaign is separate from the cricket tournament, with the Indian women’s team arriving as defending Asian Games champions. India defeated Chinese Taipei 26-25 in the Hangzhou final and will now attempt to retain their title in Japan.
Pushpa Rana will captain the side, while experienced players Ritu Negi and Sonali Shingate provide additional leadership. India will begin their Group A campaign against Bangladesh on September 21 before facing Iran on September 23 and Japan on September 24.
The semi-finals and gold medal match are scheduled for September 25 and 26. India and Iran remain major forces in women’s Asian kabaddi, while Chinese Taipei could also provide a difficult challenge.
India Women’s Gold Medal Chances
India Women’s gold medal chances in both sports will depend on different factors. In cricket, India’s recent Asia Cup success, experienced batting lineup and strong bowling options give them a solid foundation for the knockout stage.
In kabaddi, India enter as defending champions and reigning World Cup winners. Their experience in major tournaments will be important as they attempt to negotiate the group stage and knockout rounds.
With both defending champions competing in Japan, the 2026 Asian Games will provide another opportunity for India’s women athletes to compete for continental honours and defend their titles.
