The women’s cricket competition at the Asian Games has produced three completed editions since its inaugural staging in 2010. Pakistan won gold in both 2010 and 2014 before India claimed the title in 2023, while Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Japan also featured among the medal winners.
As Japan prepares to host the fourth edition from 17 to 22 September 2026, eight teams, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, China, Malaysia, Thailand and Pakistan, will compete for Asian supremacy.
Asian Games 2010: Pakistan Begin with Gold
The inaugural edition was played in Guangzhou, China, from 13 to 19 November 2010. Pakistan, led by Sana Mir, finished at the top of Group A with four points from two matches and remained the only unbeaten team in the group. In the second semi-final on 18 November, Pakistan defeated Japan, captained by Ema Kuribayashi, by nine wickets to enter the gold medal match. Bangladesh, led by Salma Khatun, had topped Group B with four points from two games and was also unbeaten in the group stage.
However, Pakistan produced a dominant performance in the final on 19 November, defeating Bangladesh by 10 wickets to secure the inaugural gold medal. Bangladesh settled for silver, while Japan earned bronze after beating China by seven wickets in the third-place playoff. Japan had finished third in Group B with two points from two matches.
Asian Games 2014: Pakistan Retain Their Crown
The second edition took place in South Korea from 20 to 26 September 2014. Pakistan once again reached the summit, although their route to the title was more closely contested. Under Sana Mir’s leadership, Pakistan defeated Thailand by 51 runs in the third quarter-final on 24 September. They then overcame China by nine wickets in the first semi-final on 25 September to set up a final against Bangladesh.
The gold medal match on 26 September went down to the wire, with Pakistan defeating Salma Khatun’s Bangladesh by just four runs. Bangladesh claimed silver for the second successive edition. Sri Lanka, led by Chamari Athapaththu, secured bronze after defeating China by five wickets in the third-place playoff. Sri Lanka had earlier beaten Hong Kong by 82 runs in the second quarter-final, but Bangladesh ended their gold medal hopes with a 25-run victory in the second semi-final.
Asian Games 2023: India Enter the Gold-Medal Roll
After the BCCI did not send India’s men’s or women’s teams to the 2010 and 2014 editions because of a busy international calendar and scheduling conflicts, India finally made a landmark appearance in the third edition at Hangzhou, China, from 19 to 25 September 2023. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India defeated Bangladesh by eight wickets in the first semi-final on 24 September. In the final, India overcame Sri Lanka, captained by Chamari Athapaththu, by 19 runs on 25 September to win the gold medal.
Also Read, list of all the Indian Captains that have led the team since 1976
Sri Lanka earned silver after their final defeat, having beaten Thailand by eight wickets in the third quarter-final and Pakistan by six wickets in the second semi-final. Bangladesh, led by Nigar Sultana Joty, claimed bronze by defeating Pakistan, captained by Nida Dar, by five wickets in the third-place playoff. Bangladesh’s quarter-final had been washed out by rain before India ended their campaign in the semi-final.
Japan 2026: A New Chapter Awaits
The fourth edition will begin from the quarter-finals, with India facing Japan at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, on 17 September 2026 at 5:30 AM IST. Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the defending champions (gold medalists) as they seek to defend their gold medal, while Pakistan will hope to revive the dominance that brought them gold in the first two editions. With eight teams in contention, Japan 2026 promises another significant chapter in the growth of women’s cricket across Asia.
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.