India Women Cruise Past Japan to Reach Asian Games Semifinals

When the toss went to Harmanpreet Kaur, she chose to field – a move that set the tone for what turned out to be a one‑sided affair. The Indian bowlers, especially the spin duo led by Sree Charani, never gave the Japanese batters a moment to breathe.

Japan’s innings was a study in nerves. After a modest 24‑run opening stand between Haruna Iwasaki and Ayaka Kato Stafford, wickets fell like autumn leaves. Boundaries were a rarity – just three fours in total – and the hosts were bowled out for a paltry 57.

Charani was the star with the ball, twirling the away‑leg and leg‑cutter to snare four wickets. Shafali Verma chipped in with two, while Deepti Sharma and Sushma Patil each grabbed a wicket, completing a tidy bow‑out.

Chasing 58, India’s response was anything but cautious. Shafali Verma, who had been in blistering form all tournament, erupted for a rapid 40 off just 15 balls – a flurry of fours and sixes that left the scoreboard ticking. Richa Ghosh added a handy 12, and the pair were 59/2 after just 4.6 overs, sealing the win well inside the Powerplay.

Beyond the numbers, the match held a sweeter note for Japan. Every run was met with cheers from the local crowd, and the Japanese players bowed to the stands in gratitude – a reminder that sport is about more than just victory.

With this win, India moves into the semifinals where they will meet Bangladesh, while Sri Lanka takes on Pakistan in the other semi. The finals are slated for Sunday, 20 September, with gold and bronze medals hanging in the balance.

In the locker‑room, Sree Charani reflected on her experience in Japan, saying she loved the culture and was simply focused on “sticking to her strengths and getting the ball to spin.” The team had limited practice before the game, but that didn’t stop them from delivering a textbook performance.