'Our Daughters are Keeping Tricolour Flying High': PM Modi Congratulates Harmanpreet & Co for Asian Games Gold

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian women’s cricket team for winning the historic gold medal in the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, China. The women in blue defeated Chamari Athapaththu’s Sri Lanka by 19 runs in a low-score affair to add a new chapter in India’s women’s cricket.

PM Modi lauded the Indian women’s team’s ‘grand show’ in China and congratulated them on their ‘great victory’.

“What a grand show by our cricket team as they clinch Women’s Cricket gold at the Asian Games. The country rejoices in their incredible achievement,” news agency PTI quoted PM Modi as saying.

“Our daughters are keeping the tricolour flying high in the sporting arena too with their talent, grit, skill and teamwork. Congratulations on your great victory,” he added.

Anurag Thakur, former BCCI chief and Union Sports Minister, also congratulated the Indian women’s team for bringing home India’s first-ever gold in cricket.

“IT’S A GOLD! Congratulations to our Women’s Cricket Team on their astounding debut at the #AsianGames and bring home India’s 1st-ever GOLD in Cricket. Valiant effort and terrific fielding from the #WomenInBlue, rising from the ashes and leaving cricket fans at the edge of their seats till the very last moment,” Thakur wrote on X.

“This historic win is a testament to their grit, indomitable spirit, and resilience, a moment which will forever be etched in India’s Asian Games history. Congratulations CHAMPIONS #BharatAtAG22,” he added.

Monday’s gold medal match was also Harmanpreet Kaur’s 100th game as T20I captain, who returned from a two-match suspension. India had got past Malaysia in the quarter-final and defeated Bangladesh, the eventual bronze medal winner, in the semi-final in their quest to win the elusive gold medal.

Electing to bat first, Smriti and Jemimah made 46 and 42 respectively on a tough pitch with turn and awkward bounce while also throwing up some puffs of dust. After the duo fell, India lost wickets in quick succession to finish with 116/7.

Titas, Player of the Match in the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup final for her spell of 2-6 earlier this year, picked three wickets in a spell full of accuracy, including a double-wicket maiden first over.

Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad took two wickets while Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar and Devika Vaidya had a scalp each to contribute to India’s gold medal win in their first-ever participation in the event as Sri Lanka ended up at 97/8.

(With Agency Inputs)