India Women Begin India women Asian Games cricket campaign Against Japan
Harmanpreet Kaur’s side faces hosts Japan in the quarter-final as India begins its campaign in Aichi-Nagoya
India, Sep 18 : India’s women’s cricket team begins its campaign at the 2026 Asian Games on Friday, September 18, facing hosts Japan in the quarter final at Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin.
Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India enters the competition as the defending gold medallist. The quarter final is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. IST, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
The Indian side was handed a direct entry into the quarter-final stage, while Japan will face the defending champions in front of a home crowd. India’s campaign is part of the wider Asian Games programme taking place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The other quarter final involving Bangladesh and China was abandoned because of rain on Thursday. Bangladesh advanced to the semi-finals based on its higher T20I ranking, meaning the winner of India’s match with Japan is scheduled to meet Bangladesh in the last four.
India’s cricket campaign is one of several events involving the country’s athletes on September 18. Indian competitors are also taking part in teqball and men’s team soft tennis as the country prepares for the official opening of the Asian Games on September 19.
The tournament is being held across Aichi and Nagoya, with India fielding more than 500 athletes across 36 disciplines. The women’s cricket team will now look to progress through the knockout stage and continue its pursuit of another continental title.
