Asian Games 2026 Day 4 Highlights: Harmanpreet Kaur's team wins first gold for India; medals assured in badminton, wushu

That's a wrap for the Indian contingent on Day 3 of the Asian Games 2026. It was not as productive a day for India as the previous two days was. However, it was a big day as the country secured their first gold medal of the campaign, as the Indian women's cricket team beat Sri Lanka to clinch the gold medal. The Indian men's badminton team qualified for the semi-final, thus assuring a medal. In fact, Roshibina Devi assured another medal for India in Wushu.

Comprehensive win for India in consecutive matches, as they beat Sri Lanka 16-1 days after they beat Indonesia 13-1. Eight different players contributed with goals, with Jugraj Singh scoring four and Abhishek and Dilpreet Singh also scoring hat-tricks. Sri Lanka did manage to score a consolation through Suresh Rathnayake, which was the first goal Sri Lanka has scored against India in Asian Games history.

Up next for India what should be a tougher match against four-time Asian Games champion South Korea on Thursday

The Indian women's table tennis team's campaign was defined by fights, until it fizzled out in the quarter-finals, one step short of a medal. North Korea, the draw's most unknown and dangerous opponents given their players don't compete in WTT events, swept India 3-0. A quarter-final finish is a step better than their Round of 16 exit in Hangzhou three years ago, although India's women are still searching for a first team medal at the Asian Games (the men won bronze in 2018). This team, without its star player Manika Batra who wasn't picked, produced fighting wins against Singapore and Thailand, but North Korea proved too strong in the end.

The goals continued to flow in the third quarter, with Manpreet Singh getting on the scoresheet within 45 seconds of the restart. Vivek Sagar Prasad and Dilpreet added to the team's tally before Jugraj Singh completed his hat-trick by converting a penalty stroke. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh closed out the half with a second goal for himself with another powerful drag-flick. India now leads 13-0 with one quarter to go.

Yashaswini Ghorpade lost the second tie of the quarter-final against North Korea, as she fell to Gyong Son Pyon by a margin of 4-11, 3-11, 6-11. India now need to win the final three ties on the trot to stay in contention for a medal.

Five goals came in the second quarter. Captain Harmanpreet Singh got in on the act within 30 seconds of the restart with a trademark thunderous drag-flick. Abhishek then scored his second in the 17th minute. Jugraj Singh got his second as well in the 22nd before Sukhjeet had the enviable task of tapping home into an empty net in the 29th minute. India still had time for another chance, with Dilpreet Singh - who scored four against Indonesia - deflecting home. India lead Sri Lanka 8-0 at half-time.

In the women's table tennis team quarter-final against North Korea, India have lost the first match as Sreeja Akula goes down 7-11, 6-11, 5-11 against Kum Yong Kim.

India have begun their quarter-final bout against North Korea, with Sreeja Akula starting proceedings. India will be looking to win this game in order to assure another medal in Aichi-Nagoya.

Artistic gymnast Pranati Nayak boosted India's chances of a medal in the sport, as she was one of the eight athletes to qualify for the individual vault final.

In the men's 56 kg quarter-final against Saydulloh Abdurashitov of Afghanistan, Wushu star Aryan Sood crashes out, and misses out on a medal.

Straight-forward and dominant display so far in the first quarter from defending champions India, as they lead Sri Lanka 3-0 in their Pool A match. Mandeep Singh opened the scoring in the fifth minute, followed by a powerful drag-flick by Jugraj Singh in the 10th. Abhishek chipped in with a field goal of his own a minute later.

India's Roshibina Devi storms into the semi-finals of the women's 69kg Sanda Wushu by defeating Macau, China's Chu Man Sin. She has thus assured India's 9th medal at the Asian Games 2026.

India will next be seen in action in the men's hockey as Harmanpreet Singh and his team take on Sri Lanka in their second Pool A game of the tournament. They beat Indonesia 13-1 in their first game.

India finish last in the 4x100m men's swimming relay final, as the quartet of Utkarsh Atil, Danush Suresh, Benedicton Benison, Akash Mani disappoint. China clinch the gold, with Japan winning the silver and South Korea winning the bronze.

India have assured their 8th medal at the Asian Games 2026. Ayush Shetty edges past Koki Watanabe in the third match-up of the Indian men's badminton's teams quarter-final against Japan. They have thus assured a medal, as they cruise into the semi-final, where they will face either China or South Korea.

Jadumani Singh opens India's boxing campaign at the Asian Games 2026 on a high as he defeats Chandra Bahadur Thapa of Nepal in the men's 55kg category Round of 32. The Indian pugilist has now qualified for the Round of 16.

The Indian women's team have received their gold medals, as Harmanpreet Kaur win back-to-back Asian Games golds.

The Indian contingent have officially begun their boxing campaign, as Jadumani Singh takes on Nepal's Chandra Bahadur Thapa in the men's 55kg round of 32 bout. Jadumani comes into the contest having recently won the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026.

Ayush Shetty gets off to a good start as he bags the first game against Koki Watanabe as he takes the first game. He needs to win two more games to ensure his victory, and also assure India of a bronze medal at the very least.

Ayush Shetty is in action for India against Japan’s Koki Watanabe in the third match of the quarterfinal. A win for Ayush would seal India’s place in the semifinals and guarantee the team a medal in the men’s badminton event.

Tanishka Khatri's journey ends. She loses 9-15 against reigning world champion Sera Song in the women's epee individual round of 16.

The second game between Satwik Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty and Japan’s Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi turned into a thrilling battle, with the scores tied at 20-20, 21-21 and 22-22. Neither pair was willing to give an inch, but Satwik and Chirag finally held their nerve to close out the game 24-22. India now lead Japan 2-0 after the first two matches of the men’s badminton quarterfinal.

India have opened their Asian Games 2026 gold medal account, with the women’s cricket team delivering the first top finish for the country. Smriti Mandhana’s sublime 79 helped India post a commanding 216/3, setting Sri Lanka a daunting target. The chase never got going as India’s bowlers dominated from the outset, dismissing Sri Lanka for just 69. India completed a massive 147-run victory to seal the gold medal in emphatic fashion.

Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have taken the opening game 21-18 against Japan’s Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi. Chirag and Satwik held their nerve in a tight finish as India’s pair edged ahead in the second match of the men’s badminton team quarterfinal.

Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are locked at 14-14 against Japan’s Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi in the second match of the men’s badminton team quarterfinal. It is finely poised as both pairs look to gain the edge in the opening game.