‘Proud moment’: PM Modi, President hail India; Women’s team snubs Asia Cup trophy

Champions Again! India Lifts Women's Asia Cup for Record 8th Title 🏏🇮🇳

The tricolour flew high in Dubai as Harmanpreet Kaur's India crowned themselves Women's Asia Cup champions once more, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. An unbeaten, dominant campaign that had the whole nation celebrating.

The Match in Brief:

Smriti Mandhana & Shafali Verma put on a record-breaking show with a 129-run opening stand. Both blasted 59 & 68 respectively off just 39 balls each! Sree Charani (4/20) and Deepti Sharma (3/19) then wrapped up a disciplined bowling spell, shipping Sri Lanka out for a mere 111. India finished at 183/5. A complete team effort across every department.

Leaders Hail the Trophies:

PM Modi called it "a proud moment for Indian cricket," praising the side's confidence, consistency and spirit. President Murmu praised the squad as an inspiration, especially for our young daughters. BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Minster Hardeep Singh Puri all joined in—Puri especially lighting it up with "Batting brilliance. Bowling firepower. Electric fielding. Nerves of steel."

A Politically Sensitive Moment:

In a notable gesture, India did not receive the trophy from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia explained it was a show of solidarity with the men's team, reflecting the ongoing diplomatic tension since the April 2025 Pahalgam incident. Saikia stressed the decision did nothing to diminish the achievement, calling India's dominance "the biggest evidence" of women's cricket's growth in the country.

What's Next:

The team's eyes are already on the Asian Games in Aichi, Japan. Matches scheduled for the 18th, 20th & 22nd, with the sole objective of bringing home gold.

Champions once more, and it feels like just the beginning! 💃

Source: Times of India