India qualify for Women's Asian Games semi-final after defeating hosts Japan

India have qualified for the semi-finals of the Women's Asian Games cricket tournament on Friday, September 18, after defeating hosts Japan in the quarter-final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture. They will now play Bangladesh Women in the penultimate clash at the same venue a couple of days later.

The result confirmed India's place in the last four of the eight-team knockout competition and kept their bid to retain the gold medal firmly on track. Harmanpreet Kaur led the Indian side well, getting Mai Yanagida's women bundled out for just 57 in 19.5 overs.

India entered the match as the highest-ranked team in the tournament, sitting third in the ICC Women's T20I rankings. The quarter-final was also the first-ever meeting between the two nations in women's T20I cricket, adding a historic dimension to an already significant contest.

The women's cricket competition at these Games features eight teams and is structured as a direct knockout tournament with no league stage, meaning every match is an elimination contest. India's progress to the semi-finals therefore represents a crucial step in their title defence.

How did the game unfold?

The Indians won the toss and opted to bowl first. While a relatively weaker Japanese side could not stand their ground against the might of Women in Blue, opener Ayaka Kato-Stafford top-scored with 25. However, lack of contributions from the other end meant that wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals, as they could post only 57 runs on the board.

For the Indian side, NR Shree Charani was the most impressive bowler, bowling four overs and picking four important wickets. Charani, currently the ICC no. 1-ranked bowler in WT20Is, gave only ten runs across her spell, showing her class as a genuine threat to the opposition. Shafali Verma also picked up a couple while Deepti Sharma sent Erika Oda packing. Shreyanka Patil picked the last in the form of Nonoha Yasumoto.

Shafali also came out to open the run chase, but alongside an unusual opening partner in Gunalan Kamalini, as Smriti Mandhana was asked to change her batting position. She launched a scattering attack on the Japanese bowlers, smashing an unbeaten 40 off just 15 deliveries, which also included six fours and a couple of sixes. Her last six also meant the winning runs for the visiting side. India lost two wickets, but completed the chase in only five overs.

How does India's recent form look heading into the semi-finals?

India arrived at the 2026 Asian Games carrying strong momentum. In the week before the tournament began, they won the Women's Asia Cup for a record-extending eighth time, defeating Sri Lanka in the final to underline their dominance of Asian women's cricket.

India are also the defending Asian Games champions, having claimed the gold medal at the 2023 edition by beating Sri Lanka in the final in Hangzhou. That title defence now continues with a semi-final berth secured in Japan.

The combination of the Asia Cup triumph and their status as the top-ranked side in this field makes India the team to beat as the tournament enters its final stages. Their unbeaten run through the knockout rounds so far reflects the consistency they have shown across formats in 2026.

For Japan, the exit ends what was only their third appearance in the Asian Games cricket competition. Their best result in the tournament remains the bronze medal they won in 2010, and this quarter-final defeat means that record goes unchallenged for now.