However it was anything but a smooth affair in change of guard what appeared from outside. According to a report, the change in captaincy comes after alleged differences between Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana. The captaincy issue reportedly created some tension between the two senior players and also caused unease within the dressing room.

Also Read: Smriti Mandhana named Indian women's cricket captain after Harmanpreet Kaur steps down

Harmanpreet decided to step down as captain following a review meeting with the BCCI. The 37-year-old from Moga had been leading India since 2016 and ended her captaincy on a high after guiding the team to a second consecutive Asian Games gold medal in Japan.

Mandhana, 30, has been one of India's leading batters for several years. Since making her international debut in 2013, the left-hander has scored more than 10,000 runs across formats. Known for her timing and elegant batting, she has also added more power to her game in recent years.

Captaincy change had been expected

The possibility of Mandhana taking over as captain had been discussed for some time.

According to the report, Mandhana was unhappy that the selectors continued with the existing leadership setup even after India won the ODI World Cup at home last year.

In a recent interview, Mandhana indicated that she was ready to captain India. After India's Asian Games victory, she also spoke about the need for the team to focus on winning bigger tournaments.

Questions over the captaincy increased following India's disappointing performances in T20 cricket. Early exits from successive T20 World Cups put Harmanpreet's leadership, particularly in the shortest format, under greater scrutiny.

However, the selectors initially decided against making an immediate change.

The situation reportedly changed during a review meeting in Guwahati chaired by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia. Harmanpreet was reportedly informed that a leadership change was likely, following which she decided to step down.

The captaincy issue had also reportedly created tension between Harmanpreet and Mandhana, despite the two sharing a good relationship in the past.

Former India captain Mithali Raj had also weighed in on the leadership debate following India's T20 World Cup exit in the UK earlier this year. She said the selectors should have given the ODI captaincy to Mandhana two or three years earlier and suggested that a younger player such as Shafali Verma could have been considered for the T20 captaincy.

The claim was made by Falahari Maharaj, president of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Sangharsh Nyas. He alleged that Rs 5 crore was spent to get Virat Kohli to the Radha Keli Kunj Ashram, so that Premanand Maharaj would gain more popularity. No evidence has surfaced to show that Virat Kohli or his wife, actor Anushka Sharma, received any such payment.

Virat Kohli's team said the cricketer goes to meet Premanand Maharaj only because of his faith and respect for the saint. It also asked the media to check facts before publishing or repeating such statements and to report responsibly.

Kohli and Anushka's visits

The couple first visited the ashram on January 4, 2023, and have returned several times since. They kept visiting even after Kohli moved away from T20 international cricket.

Why the ashram is in the news

The allegation came while the ashram is already under scrutiny over the death of a disciple, Rasik Dulari. He died after falling from the fourth floor of the ashram building on September 25.

Mathura police are looking into whether he was under mental stress or suffering from depression. They are trying to understand how he lived before joining the ashram and how his behaviour changed afterwards. His old phone, a new SIM card, call records, chats and other digital data are being examined to find out whom he spoke to in his last days.

So far, the police have taken statements from 85 people in connection with the case.

On the cricket field

Virat Kohli was back in ODI action recently for India's three-match home series against the West Indies. He started well with an unbeaten 139 in Thiruvananthapuram. That knock took him past 15,000 ODI runs and only Sachin Tendulkar has reached that mark before him.

The next two games were quieter. He made 29 in the second ODI and was out for a duck in the third. India won the first two matches, but the West Indies took the last one in New Chandigarh by five wickets and avoided a clean sweep. Kohli finished the series with 168 runs.

His next assignment is likely to be India's tour of New Zealand in November. The ODI leg is due to start in Auckland on November 4, with games to follow in Wellington, Hamilton and Mount Maunganui. India will also play five T20Is and two Tests on the tour.

Kohli has already retired from T20Is and Tests, so ODIs are now his only format for India. He has also hinted that the 2027 ODI World Cup will be his last.

Also Read | Rasik Dulari Sharan death: Fourth CCTV video shows final moments in Vrindavan corridor

The BCCI announced Mandhana's appointment on Tuesday, shortly after Harmanpreet decided to step down as captain in all three formats. Harmanpreet, who led India to their first Women's Cricket World Cup title in 2025 and most recently guided the team to Asian Games gold in Nagoya, will continue playing for India.

Mandhana, who has been part of the Indian team since 2013, will now take over as the full-time captain. She has previously led India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs.

Mandhana acknowledged the contribution of her predecessor after being handed the leadership role.

“To be given the responsibility of leading India is a very special honour. Representing India has always meant a great deal to me, and to now have the opportunity to lead the team is something I will value deeply,” Mandhana said.

“I would also like to acknowledge Harmanpreet and the contribution she has made as captain over the years. She has led the team with great commitment and has been an important part of our journey.”

Mandhana takes over from Harmanpreet

Harmanpreet announced her decision to give up the captaincy earlier on Tuesday. Her leadership career began with the T20I team in 2016, and she became the full-time captain in ODIs and Tests in 2022.

During her time as captain, Harmanpreet achieved several major milestones. The biggest came in 2025 when she led India to their first Women's Cricket World Cup title. She also guided India to two Asian Games gold medals, including the latest one in Nagoya.

Harmanpreet also became the most-capped player in women's international cricket this year.

Mandhana brings plenty of leadership experience to the role. Apart from international cricket, she has captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Women's Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026.

BCCI president Mithun Manhas backed Mandhana and said her experience and understanding of the game would help her lead the Indian women's team into a new phase.

37 ਸਾਲਾ ਹਰਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਨੇ ਪੰਜ ਟੈਸਟ, 51 ਵਨਡੇ ਅਤੇ 155 ਟੀ-20 ਅੰਤਰਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਮੈਚਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਭਾਰਤ ਦੀ ਕਪਤਾਨੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ। ਕਪਤਾਨ ਵਜੋਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਆਖਰੀ ਕੰਮ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਮਹੀਨੇ ਨਿਸ਼ਿਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਟੀਮ ਨੂੰ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ ਦੂਜੇ ਏਸ਼ੀਆਈ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਦੇ ਸੋਨ ਤਗਮੇ ਲਈ ਅਗਵਾਈ ਕਰਨਾ ਸੀ। 

ਹਰਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਦਾ ਕਪਤਾਨੀ ਛੱਡਣ ਦਾ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਉਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਆਇਆ ਹੈ ਜਦੋਂ ਉਸਨੇ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਟੀਮ ਦੀ ਉਪ-ਕਪਤਾਨ ਸਮ੍ਰਿਤੀ ਮੰਧਾਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਕੋਚ ਅਮੋਲ ਮਜ਼ੂਮਦਾਰ ਨਾਲ ਗੁਹਾਟੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਬੀਸੀਸੀਆਈ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਦੇਵਜੀਤ ਸੈਕੀਆ ਨਾਲ ਮੁਲਾਕਾਤ ਕਰਕੇ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਮਹਿਲਾ ਟੀਮ ਲਈ ਭਵਿੱਖ ਦੇ ਰੋਡਮੈਪ 'ਤੇ ਚਰਚਾ ਕੀਤੀ।

ਹਰਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਸਨੇ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਮਹਿਲਾ ਕ੍ਰਿਕਟ ਅਤੇ ਟੀਮ ਲਈ ਆਪਣਾ ਸਭ ਕੁਝ ਦੇ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਕਈ ਮੌਕਿਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਉਸਨੇ ਟੀਮ ਦੀ ਖ਼ਾਤਰ ਆਪਣੇ ਨਿੱਜੀ ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਨ, ਵਿਕਾਸ ਅਤੇ ਨਿੱਜੀ ਇੱਛਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ ਪਾਸੇ ਰੱਖਿਆ। ਉਸਨੇ ਲਿਖਿਆ "ਮੈਂ ਆਪਣਾ ਖੂਨ, ਪਸੀਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਸਮਾਂ ਇਸ ਟੀਮ ਅਤੇ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਮਹਿਲਾ ਕ੍ਰਿਕਟ ਨੂੰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਕਈ ਵਾਰ, ਮੈਂ ਆਪਣੀ ਖੇਡ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਅਤੇ ਨਿੱਜੀ ਇੱਛਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਇੱਕ ਪਾਸੇ ਰੱਖ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਮੇਰਾ ਮੰਨਣਾ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਟੀਮ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਆਉਂਦੀ ਹੈ।" ਉਸਨੇ ਕਪਤਾਨ ਵਜੋਂ ਲਏ ਗਏ ਫੈਸਲਿਆਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਉਸ ਆਲੋਚਨਾ ਦਾ ਵੀ ਜ਼ਿਕਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਜੋ ਉਸਨੂੰ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ। ਹਰਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਾਰੇ ਫੈਸਲੇ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਲ ਸਨ ਅਤੇ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਸਮਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਉਂਦੇ ਸਨ, ਪਰ ਉਸਦਾ ਸਿਰਫ ਇੱਕ ਉਦੇਸ਼ ਸੀ - ਟੀਮ ਨੂੰ ਬਿਹਤਰ ਬਣਾਉਣਾ ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਖਿਡਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਤਰੱਕੀ ਦਾ ਮੌਕਾ ਦੇਣਾ।

ਹਰਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਕੌਰ ਨੇ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਮਹਿਲਾ ਕ੍ਰਿਕਟ ਟੀਮ ਦੀ ਕਪਤਾਨੀ ਛੱਡੀ

ਹਰਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਨੇ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਟੀਮ ਨਾਲ ਆਪਣੇ ਸਫ਼ਰ ਦੇ ਉਤਰਾਅ-ਚੜ੍ਹਾਅ ਨੂੰ ਯਾਦ ਕੀਤਾ। ਉਸਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਸਨੇ ਨਿਰਾਸ਼ਾ, ਦਿਲ ਟੁੱਟਣਾ, ਆਲੋਚਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਔਖੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਦੇਖੇ ਹਨ, ਪਰ ਜਿੱਤ, ਜਸ਼ਨ ਅਤੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੀ ਨੁਮਾਇੰਦਗੀ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਮਾਣ ਵੀ ਦੇਖਿਆ ਹੈ। ਉਸਨੇ ਲਿਖਿਆ "ਮੈਂ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਮਾੜੇ ਸਮੇਂ, ਦਿਲ ਟੁੱਟਣਾ, ਆਲੋਚਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ੱਕ ਵੀ ਦੇਖੇ ਹਨ। ਮੈਂ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਉੱਚੇ ਪਲ, ਜਿੱਤ, ਜਸ਼ਨ ਅਤੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੀ ਨੁਮਾਇੰਦਗੀ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਮਾਣ ਵੀ ਦੇਖਿਆ ਹੈ।" ਵਿਸ਼ਵ ਕੱਪ ਜਿੱਤ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਕਪਤਾਨੀ ਛੱਡਣ ਦਾ ਉਸਦਾ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਇਸ ਲਈ ਵੀ ਖਾਸ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਉਹ ਹੁਣ ਮੰਨਦੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਟੀਮ ਸਹੀ ਰਸਤੇ 'ਤੇ ਹੈ।

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ਹਰਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਕਪਤਾਨੀ ਛੱਡਣ ਬਾਰੇ ਭਾਵੁਕ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਉਸਦੇ ਮਨ 'ਚ ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਹੈ। ਉਸਨੂੰ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਟੀਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਭਾ, ਚਰਿੱਤਰ ਅਤੇ ਭਵਿੱਖ ਲਈ ਇੱਕ ਮਜ਼ਬੂਤ ​​ਨੀਂਹ ਹੈ। ਉਸਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ "ਮੈਨੂੰ ਲੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਮੈਂ ਆਪਣਾ ਫਰਜ਼ ਨਿਭਾਇਆ ਹੈ। ਮੈਂ ਇਸ ਟੀਮ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣਾ ਸਭ ਕੁਝ ਦੇ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਮੈਂ ਇਸ ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਣ ਨਾਲ ਨਿਭਾਇਆ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਮਹਿਲਾ ਕ੍ਰਿਕਟ ਦੀ ਅਗਵਾਈ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਲਈ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਧੰਨਵਾਦੀ ਰਹਾਂਗੀ।"

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The veteran all-rounder announced her decision on Tuesday, saying she had fulfilled her responsibility as captain and was now looking forward to playing the game purely for her love of cricket.

The development followed a BCCI review meeting in Guwahati, where the recent performances and overall direction of the women’s team were discussed. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar were among those present at the meeting.

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Harmanpreet's association with India's captaincy dates back to 2012, when she first led the side in a T20 match against Pakistan in Guangzhou. She later became India's full-time T20I captain in 2016.

Also Read | First gold for India at Asian Games 2026: Harmanpreet Kaur and co retain gold, beat Sri Lanka by 147 runs

Following Mithali Raj's retirement, Harmanpreet was handed the permanent ODI captaincy in 2022. She subsequently became India's all-format captain in 2023.

 Announcing her decision through social media, Harmanpreet described the move as an emotional one, reflecting on the sacrifices and responsibilities that came with leading the national side.

She said she had often put her personal ambitions and individual game aside for the team's interests and had faced both difficult periods and memorable highs during her leadership journey.

Despite stepping away from captaincy, Harmanpreet Kaur made it clear that she intends to remain closely involved with the Indian team as a player. She expressed confidence in the current group, pointing to its talent, character and belief in the future.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s full statement

Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team across all formats.

This is not an easy decision. It carries years of memories, emotions, sacrifices, and moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

I have given everything I had to this team and to Indian women’s cricket — my blood, my sweat, my time, and many times, a part of my own game and personal ambitions. There were moments when I had to put my individual performance, my own growth, and what I wanted for myself aside, because I believed the team had to come first.

As a captain, I have had to make difficult decisions.

Decisions that were not always understood, not always easy, and sometimes came at a personal cost. But every decision I made was with one intention - to make this TEAM better and to give other players the opportunity to grow, believe in themselves and become the best versions of themselves.

I have seen it all.

I have seen the lowest moments, the heartbreak, the criticism, the doubts and the days when nothing seemed to go our way. And I have also experienced the highest highs - the victories, the celebrations, the pride of representing our country, and the moments that made every sacrifice worth it.

I leave the captaincy today with a heart full of emotions , but also with PEACE .

Because I genuinely believe My team is in a good place. A team with talent, character, belief and a future that I am incredibly excited to watch and be a part of .

I feel I have done my duty.

I gave this team everything I had. I carried the responsibility with pride, and I will always be grateful for the privilege of leading Indian women’s cricket.

Now, it is time for me to turn the page.

Captaincy may end today, but my love for Indian cricket never will.

Thank you to every teammate, coach, support staff, management , BCCI , family members every single fan who stood by me through the highs and lows.

Blood. Sweat. Sarifice. Pride.

I gave it all

Now, I’m ready to play for the love of the game again.

Captaincy ends. The journey continues.

India’s captain Harmanpreet Singh opened the scoring in the 11th minute, converting a penalty corner. Jugraj Singh then doubled India’s lead in the 23rd minute, also finding the net from a penalty corner.

Malaysia responded in the 14th minute through a field goal from Shello Silverius, keeping the contest alive. India, however, took control in the second half. Hardik Singh converted a penalty stroke in the 42nd minute to make it 3-1 before Shilanand Lakra scored a field goal in the 54th minute.

Harmanpreet completed the scoring three minutes from the final whistle, converting another penalty corner in the 57th minute to seal a convincing 5-1 victory for India.

The gold in men’s hockey added to India’s strong showing on Saturday, with the country also winning gold medals in men’s cricket, archery, golf and wrestling.

With 21 gold medals and 85 medals overall, India moved into fourth place in the Asian Games medal standings.

The hockey triumph was particularly significant as the Asian Games gold also earned India qualification for the 2028 Olympics, giving the Indian men’s team a direct route to the Games.

Other medals of the day

Wrestling: Aman Sehrawat beat North Korea's Han in a tense final. He led 6-1 early, but Han fought back to lead 7-6. Sehrawat answered with a four-point move, and a review sought by Han was rejected, giving him another point. He held on to the lead until the end. It is India's second wrestling gold after Sujeet Kalkal's.

Cricket: India beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the men's final, scoring 211/6 and restricting Pakistan to 192/6. Hasan Nawaz scored a brave 96 for Pakistan, but it was not enough. Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube played key roles with the bat. With the women's team having already won, India now has gold in both cricket events.

Golf: Pranavi Urs became the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games golf gold, finishing at 15-under 265, one shot clear. She recovered from a triple bogey on the third hole with three later birdies. It is India's first golf gold since Shiv Kapur in 2002. Urs, Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar also won team silver behind China.

Archery: Neeraj Chauhan won bronze in men's individual recurve, beating fellow Indian Dhiraj Bommadevara. India's archers finished with five golds, two silvers and two bronzes in total.


Also Read | India hit 20 gold at Asian Games: Aman Sehrawat wins wrestling gold; cricket, golf and archery add more

The victory added another gold to a memorable day for India, which has now picked up four gold medals on Saturday alone. India's overall medal tally has reached 82, keeping the country fifth in the standings.

Aman Sehrawat holds nerve to win wrestling gold

Sehrawat defeated North Korea's Han in a closely fought 57kg final. The Indian wrestler took control early and built a 6-1 lead in the opening period. Han then fought back strongly and moved ahead 7-6 after scoring six straight points.

Sehrawat responded with a four-point move to regain the advantage. A review requested by Han was rejected, giving Sehrawat another point. He managed to protect his lead until the final whistle. The gold is India's second wrestling title at these Asian Games, following Sujeet Kalkal's earlier victory.

India beat Pakistan to win cricket gold

India also secured gold in men's cricket after defeating Pakistan by 19 runs in the final. India posted 211/6 in 20 overs before restricting Pakistan to 192/6. Hasan Nawaz kept Pakistan's hopes alive with a superb 96, but India managed to close out the match.

Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube made important contributions with the bat for India.

The result gave India gold in both men's and women's cricket at the Games, after the Indian women's team had also won the title.

Pranavi Urs creates golf history

Earlier, Pranavi Urs became the first Indian woman golfer to win an individual Asian Games gold medal. The Mysuru golfer finished the four-round competition at 15-under 265, one shot ahead of her nearest rivals. She carded a final-round 70 despite a triple bogey on the third hole. Three birdies later in the round helped Urs recover and retain her lead.

India also won silver in the women's team golf event. Urs was joined by Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar as India finished behind China. Urs' victory was India's first Asian Games golf gold since Shiv Kapur's men's individual title in 2002.

Neeraj Chauhan adds archery bronze

India's medal haul in archery also grew after Neeraj Chauhan won bronze in the men's individual recurve event. Chauhan defeated fellow Indian archer Dhiraj Bommadevara in the bronze-medal contest. The two hugged after the match. India ended the recurve competition with two golds, two silvers and one bronze. In compound archery, India collected three golds and one bronze.

Overall, Indian archers finished the Games with five gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

With Aman Sehrawat's victory, India moved to the 20-gold mark, adding another highlight to its Asian Games campaign.

Also Read | Asian Games 2026: India clinch gold in men’s cricket after beating Pakistan by 19 runs

Also Read | 44-year wait ends! India women’s hockey team clinches Asian Games Gold, defeats China 1-0

Batting first, India posted a strong total of 211 for 6 in 20 overs at Korogi Sports Park. Abhishek Sharma led the innings with a quick 61, while Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 51 to give India a big total on a good batting pitch.

Pakistan started its chase with intent but could manage 192 for 6 in their 20 overs. Hasan Nawaz kept Pakistan in the contest with a superb 96 off 50 balls, including seven sixes and five fours.

However, India held its nerve in the closing stages to secure a 19-run win. Axar Patel was among India's key bowlers, finishing with two wickets for 29 runs.

The victory marked India's second straight gold medal in the men's cricket event at the Asian Games. India's women's team had also won gold earlier in the tournament, making it a successful campaign for Indian cricket.

Also Read | India wins 18th Asian Games gold: Pranavi Urs triumphs in golf, Kumkum Mohod makes history in recurve

The 23-year-old produced a composed finish in the final round to protect a narrow one-stroke advantage and finish at the top of the leaderboard. She carded an even-par 70 in the final round to end the four-day competition at 15-under 265.

Pranavi Urs faced an early setback when she made a triple bogey on the third hole. The mistake erased her three-shot lead from the last night and put her under immediate pressure.

Also Read | 44-year wait ends! India women’s hockey team clinches Asian Games Gold, defeats China 1-0

However, she recovered strongly and added three birdies during the round to stay ahead of the chasing field and secure the gold medal.

Her victory also contributed to India's silver medal in the women's team event. Aditi Ashok returned a 67 in the final round, while Diksha Dagar finished with a 77. The best two scores from the Indian team were counted for the team competition.

India finished with a combined score of 14-under 546, behind China, which took the team gold with 22-under 538.

Pranavi Urs' gold was also India's first Asian Games golf gold since Shiv Kapur won the men's individual title in 2002.

Kumkum Mohod wins recurve gold

India also celebrated another historic victory in archery, with teenager Kumkum Mohod winning gold in the women's individual recurve event.

Kumkum Mohod held her nerve in a tense final and defeated South Korea's Oh Yejin in a shoot-off to claim the title. Her victory made her the first Indian woman to win an individual recurve medal at the Asian Games.

Mohod had earlier secured an Olympic quota place for India after reaching the semifinals, where she defeated China's Jingyi Zhu 6-2. The two gold medals added to India's strong showing at the Games.

Sangha was appointed as an umpire by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) for the games. The allegations and the circumstances surrounding his departure could not be independently verified.

Hockey Punjab president Nitin Kohli said he was aware of the reports and was verifying the information.

Meanwhile, Sangha has rejected all the allegations asserting that there have been disagreements at the beginning of the games and that he had already suggested that this would be his last event.

This is not the first complaint against Sangha. During the 2025 Hockey India League in Ranchi, a female umpire had also complained about him.

Hockey India later formed a three-member committee to investigate the allegations. However, a Hockey India official said the committee did not find enough evidence against Sangha.

An Indian Olympic Association official said that the matter was not related to either the IOA or Hockey India because umpires and technical officials for the Asian Games are appointed by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF).

AHF officials in Nagoya declined to comment on the matter.

The latest complaint comes after another misconduct case in Indian hockey earlier this year. Hockey India had removed a member of the Indian women's team support staff following harassment allegations.

Lalremsiami scored the decisive goal for India in a closely fought final as the Indian team held on to its narrow lead until the final whistle.

The victory marks India’s first Asian Games women’s hockey gold since 1982, when the team defeated South Korea to claim the title.

The triumph also brings an important reward beyond the medal. India has secured direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics with the Asian Games title.

India had missed qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics. At the Tokyo Games in 2020, the Indian women’s hockey team finished fourth.

India dominates a golden day

The women’s hockey gold capped an exceptional day for Indian sport at the Asian Games.

India won six gold medals on the 13th day of competition.

Earlier, wrestler Sujeet Kalkal won gold in the men’s 65kg freestyle category after producing a remarkable comeback in the final. Boxer Ankush Panghal then added another gold in the men’s 80kg category, defeating South Korea’s Kim Minseong. Indian boxing also had a memorable day, with Parveen Hooda winning gold in the women’s 65kg category and Lovlina Borgohain taking the top prize in the women’s 75kg event.

Earlier in the day, India’s women’s recurve archery team had also secured gold.

With the women’s hockey victory, India’s gold medal tally rose to 16, leaving the country fifth in the overall medal standings.

A major boost ahead of Los Angeles 2028

For the Indian women’s hockey team, the gold medal carries particular significance because of the Olympic qualification that comes with it. After missing the Paris Games, the team now has a direct route to Los Angeles 2028.

The victory also adds another chapter to the history of Indian women’s hockey, which last won Asian Games gold more than four decades ago.

After years of waiting, India once again stands at the top of the Asian Games women’s hockey podium.

Wrestler Sujeet Kalkal first clinched gold in the men's 65kg freestyle category with a dramatic comeback victory. Moments later, boxer Ankush Panghal completed the golden double by defeating South Korea's Kim Minseong in the men's 80kg final.

The two victories helped take India's gold medal tally to 15, while the country's overall medal count reached 75. India moved to fifth place in the medal standings.

Sujeet Kalkal stages stunning comeback

Sujeet looked to be heading towards defeat in the 65kg wrestling final after falling 2-9 behind against Tajikistan's Abdulmazhid Kudiev.

With only around 1 minute and 40 seconds remaining, the Indian wrestler needed something special. He found it.

Sujeet began attacking relentlessly, picking up points through a series of takedowns. He quickly reduced the gap and moved to within one point of his opponent. Then came the decisive moment. With just 11 seconds left, Sujeet produced another takedown to collect two points. That took him to 10 points and put him ahead of Kudiev's nine.

The late turnaround sealed India's wrestling gold and gave Sujeet one of the most dramatic victories of the Games. His triumph also marked India's first wrestling gold at the 2026 Asian Games.

Also Read | Birthday girl Lovlina Borgohain wins maidel boxing gold at Asian Games; second Indian female to achieve feat

Ankush Panghal follows with boxing gold

There was hardly any time to celebrate before another Indian athlete delivered gold. Ankush Panghal defeated South Korea's Kim Minseong 4-0 in the men's 80kg boxing final. Panghal controlled the bout with his movement and counter-punching and did enough to secure a clear decision from the judges.

His victory also ended a wait for an Indian male boxer at the Asian Games. Panghal became the first Indian male boxer since Amit Panghal in 2018 to win an Asian Games gold medal.

Three boxing golds for India

Ankush's victory capped a memorable day for Indian boxing. Earlier, Parveen Hooda won the women's 65kg final, beating Chinese Taipei's Chen Nien-chin 3-2 in a closely fought contest.

Lovlina Borgohain also added gold in the women's 75kg category, giving India another major boxing success on the same day. Her victory also put her alongside Mary Kom as an Indian woman boxer to win Asian Games gold.

With Ankush joining Parveen and Lovlina on top of the podium, India completed a three-gold haul in boxing on Friday.

A big day for Indian sport

The gold rush had started earlier in the day when India's women's recurve archery team won gold.

The combination of victories across archery, wrestling and boxing pushed India's gold tally to 15 and its overall medal count to 75.

For Sujeet and Ankush, however, the day will be remembered for a different reason. Their victories came almost back-to-back, giving Indian fans an extraordinary one-minute golden double at the Asian Games.

With this victory, Lovlina became only the second Indian woman boxer to win Asian Games gold, after legendary boxer MC Mary Kom. Mary won the 51kg title at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.

Lovlina had won silver at the previous Asian Games after losing to China’s Li Qian in the final.

In Friday’s final, Bao started aggressively and used quick punches to counter Lovlina’s height and reach advantage. Lovlina remained composed, defended well and looked for opportunities to land accurate jabs and hooks.

Lovlina had a narrow lead after the first round, with three judges scoring it in her favour. She then took control of the second and third rounds, with four of the five judges giving her the edge in each round.

The win adds another major achievement to the career of the former Olympic bronze medallist.

Women Archery team also strikes gold

The Indian women’s recurve archery team has created history by winning gold at the 2026 Asian Games. Ankita Bhakat, Kirti and Kumkum Mohod defeated strong contenders South Korea in the final, taking India’s gold medal tally to 11.

India had earlier beaten China 5-1 in the semifinal to reach the Asian Games final for the first time. The opening two sets were closely fought, with both teams level at 54 and 56 points. South Korea then struggled in the third set, scoring 52 after hitting three consecutive 8s. India took advantage, scoring 55 to move ahead 4-2.

South Korea responded in the fourth set with 54 points. India also scored 54, with Kirti’s initial 8 upgraded to a 9 after a review. The result was enough for India to win the set and secure a historic victory.

The achievement is especially significant because South Korea are the reigning Olympic champions and have won 10 Olympic gold medals in women’s recurve archery. At the Paris Olympics in 2024, India had finished fourth.

India had earlier beaten China 5-1 in the semifinal to reach the Asian Games final for the first time.

The opening two sets were closely fought, with both teams level at 54 and 56 points. South Korea then struggled in the third set, scoring 52 after hitting three consecutive 8s. India took advantage, scoring 55 to move ahead 4-2.

South Korea responded in the fourth set with 54 points. India also scored 54, with Kirti’s initial 8 upgraded to a 9 after a review. The result was enough for India to win the set and secure a historic victory.

The achievement is especially significant because South Korea are the reigning Olympic champions and have won 10 Olympic gold medals in women’s recurve archery. At the Paris Olympics in 2024, India had finished fourth.

The Indian team was largely the same combination that won gold in Shanghai, with Kirti replacing former world No. 1 Deepika Kumari, who did not qualify through the selection trials.

This is India’s fourth archery gold at the Asian Games, following victories in the men’s compound, women’s compound and mixed compound events. The Indian women’s recurve team had won bronze at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Ishan Kishan led the way with an unbeaten 80 off 46 balls, hitting five sixes and four fours, as India posted 169/7 after being asked to bat first. Youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also made a quick 38 off 21 balls, giving India a strong start.

Sri Lanka struggled badly while chasing 170. They were reduced to 31/6 during the powerplay and were eventually bowled out for just 45 runs in 9.5 overs.

Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma took two wickets each for India. Sri Lanka's collapse also included two run-outs as the batters struggled on the turning pitch.

The wickets of captain Shreyas Iyer (13) and Axar Patel (8) slowed India's scoring during the middle overs. However, Ishan Kishan then took charge against the Sri Lankan spinners.

Instead of playing horizontal-bat shots, Kishan mostly attacked the bowlers straight down the ground. Four of his five sixes came in the area between long-on and long-off. He also hit four boundaries during his unbeaten innings.

The India-Pakistan final is also expected to attract attention over whether the players will shake hands. Indian and Pakistani teams have not exchanged handshakes at recent Asia Cup and ICC events since Operation Sindoor, with Indian players using the gesture to show solidarity with the armed forces.

It remains to be seen whether that stance continues in the Asian Games final. Regardless of the result, Indian and Pakistani players will share the podium after the match.

India looked firmly in control early in the contest and built a 3-0 lead by the 23rd minute. However, Pakistan fought back strongly and turned the match into a tense battle, scoring three goals to bring the score level at 3-3.

India find late winner against Pakistan

With the match heading towards a tense finish, India continued to push for the winning goal. The breakthrough finally came with less than a minute remaining.

Abhishek's shot was initially saved by the Pakistan defence, but the rebound remained in play. In the ensuing scramble, the ball took a deflection off a Pakistan stick and ended up in the net.

The late goal put India ahead 4-3 and left Pakistan with very little time to respond. India held on through the final seconds to secure a place in the gold-medal match.

The result was particularly dramatic after Pakistan had erased India's three-goal advantage. India had led 3-0 before Pakistan's comeback made it 3-3, but the Indian side managed to find the crucial goal when it mattered most.

After the final whistle, players from both teams were also seen shaking hands, bringing a sporting finish to an intense India-Pakistan contest.

India will now face the winner of the other semifinal between South Korea and Malaysia in the gold-medal match.

India also reach cricket final after huge win over Sri Lanka

India also secured a place in the Asian Games men's cricket final with a comprehensive 124-run victory over Sri Lanka in the semifinal.

Batting first, India scored 169/7 in 20 overs. Ishan Kishan played a key role with an unbeaten 80, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added 38 runs from 21 balls to provide India with valuable runs.

Sri Lanka's chase never got going as the team was bowled out for just 45 runs in 9.5 overs.

Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma picked up two wickets each, while India's fielders contributed with three run-outs. Six Sri Lankan batters failed to open their accounts.

India's victory sets up a gold-medal clash against Pakistan in men's cricket, adding another India-Pakistan contest to the Asian Games schedule.

With the hockey team also through to the final, India has now secured two major gold-medal opportunities in team sports at the Games.

Also Read | Asian Games 2026 cricket Semi-Final: India to face Pakistan in high-voltage gold medal clash

The advisory aims to ensure smooth vehicular movement around the stadium on match day. Spectators have been urged to follow the designated routes and parking instructions issued by the authorities.

PLS CHECK OUT ROUTE ADVISORY 

Paid parking – P4, P5, P6 and P7

Spectators and taxis using paid parking facilities at P4, P5, P6 and P7 have been advised to use the Omaxe Chowk route to reach the stadium and follow the designated directions for their respective parking areas.

Sticker parking – P1, P2 and P3

Vehicles with valid parking stickers for P1, P2 and P3 should approach the stadium from the Marble Market Lights side and follow the designated route for sticker parking.

Pre-book paid parking via Show My Parking

Spectators have been encouraged to book their parking in advance through the Show My Parking App, the official parking partner for the match.

Match day box office

A Match Day Box Office will be available at P4 Parking from 9 am to 6 pm.

Stadium entry

The stadium gates will open at 12 noon on match day.

Match details

The third ODI between India and West Indies will be played on October 3, with the match scheduled to begin at 2 pm.

The PCA has advised spectators to reach the stadium well in advance to avoid traffic-related delays and cooperate with traffic police, security personnel and PCA staff during their journey and entry into the venue.

The latest gold came from the Indian men’s compound archery team, which defeated China in the final to complete India’s clean sweep of all three compound team gold medals on the day.

The winning trio comprised Sahil Jadhav, Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru and Kushal Dalal. Their victory followed gold-medal performances by the women’s compound team and the mixed compound pair of Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav earlier in the day.

Also Read | India defend Archery gold: Women's compound team beat China with world record equalling score at Asian Games

India’s first gold of the day came in the women’s compound team event, where Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi and Prithika Pradeep defeated China 238-234 in the final.

The Indian trio also matched the world-record score of 238. The victory allowed India to retain the title it won in the same event at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.

For Chikitha, the morning victory was only the beginning of a memorable day.

Chikitha and Sahil win a thriller

India’s second archery gold came in the compound mixed team event, where Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav faced South Korea in a closely fought final.

The two teams were locked at 157-157 after the regulation ends, forcing the contest into a shoot-off. The Indian pair held their nerve to win the decider and secure another gold for the country.

The victory also secured India a quota place for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where the compound mixed team event is set to make its Olympic debut.

For Chikitha, it was her second gold of the day, while Sahil collected his first Asian Games gold in the event.

Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai add shooting gold

India’s gold rush continued in shooting, with Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai winning the mixed team trap gold.

The Indian pair recovered strongly after a difficult start. They hit only six of their first 10 targets, leaving the team at the bottom of the standings at that stage.

The duo then produced a near-perfect run and did not miss a target in the subsequent series, eventually finishing ahead of Qatar by one point. Qatar took silver, while China settled for bronze.

For Neeru, it was another gold after her individual success in the trap event.

Men’s compound team completes the archery sweep 

India then completed a clean sweep of the three compound team gold medals when Sahil Jadhav, Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru and Kushal Dalal won the men’s team final against China.

The result gave India gold in the women’s team, mixed team and men’s team compound events on the same day.

India had also swept all five compound archery gold medals at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, making Wednesday’s performance another significant chapter in the team’s Asian Games campaign.

India’s medal count soars

The four gold medals have significantly strengthened India’s position on the Asian Games medal table.

With the latest results, India has moved up the standings, with the medal count reaching 58 medals — 10 gold, 21 silver and 27 bronze, according to the tally provided for the latest update.

The team of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep and Chikita Thaniparthi defeated China 238-234 in the final to secure the gold.

India had also beaten South Korea 234-233 in the semi-final. The Korean team fought back strongly and levelled the score at 175-175, but India regained the lead in the closing stages. Two 10s from Chikita and Prithika, along with a nine from Jyothi, helped India secure the narrow victory.

With this win, India retained the women's compound team gold they had won at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. The team also matched the world and Asian record score of 238, set by South Korea in 2014.

The Indian archers

Jyothi Surekha Vennam, 30, from Vijayawada, is India's most successful compound archer. She had already won five Asian Games medals, including three golds, before this edition.

Chikita Thaniparthi, 21, from Peddapalli, Telangana, made history by winning India's first women's individual compound gold at the Junior World Championships.

Prithika Pradeep, 17, was born in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, and raised in Pune. She won gold at the 2024 Asian Cadet Championships and has also earned medals at the World Cadet Championships, Asian Championships and World Cup.

Vithya Ramraj, Kiran Pahal, Machettira Poovamma and Prachi combined to finish the race in 3:29.69 and take the gold medal. Bahrain finished second in 3:30.21, while China took bronze with a time of 3:31.02.

The Indian quartet stayed in the fight throughout the race and held its composure when the pressure increased towards the finish. The team eventually pulled ahead of its closest rivals to give India its first athletics gold of the Games.

Also Read | Haryana's Neeru Dhanda makes history: First Indian woman to win individual Asian Games gold in trap

Vithya Ramraj wins her third medal

The victory made the evening even more special for Vithya Ramraj, who completed a three-medal haul at the 2026 Asian Games.

Vithya had earlier helped India secure silver in the mixed 4x400m relay. She then won bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles with a time of 54.75 seconds, breaking PT Usha’s 42-year-old national record of 55.42 seconds.

She returned to action in the relay and played an important role as India secured the gold.

India add more athletics medals

India had already added several athletics medals on Tuesday before the women’s 4x400m relay final. Pooja won bronze in the women’s high jump, while Gulveer Singh claimed bronze in the men’s 5000m. Gulveer finished the race in 13:32.75 and added another medal to his collection after winning silver in the 10,000m and 1500m events.

India also picked up a bronze medal in the mixed 4x100m relay.

There were some disappointing results as well. Avinash Sable did not take part in the men’s 5000m final after failing to win a medal in the 3000m steeplechase.

In the women’s hammer throw, Tanya Chaudhary finished fourth with a personal best of 63.35m, while Anushka Yadav placed fifth with a best throw of 64.56m.

Women’s relay team delivers big moment

Despite strong challenges from Bahrain and China, India maintained its rhythm across all four legs of the relay. The team crossed the line in 3:29.69 to secure a memorable gold.

Bahrain finished just 0.52 seconds behind India to take silver, with China completing the podium.

For Indian athletics, the victory ended a long wait for a gold medal at these Games. For Vithya, it completed a memorable three-medal campaign.

After collecting silver and bronze medals earlier in the competition, India finally had its athletics gold, courtesy of the women’s 4x400m relay team.

India's Day 11 wrap at Asian Games 2026 

India have wrapped up Day 11 with 6 medals, including 2 golds . The country's overall tally now stands at 52 medals. India have climbed to 10th position in the medals table.