Asian Games Live, September 22: Lakshya beats Naraoka in thriller, women's cricket team dominates SL in final

Deepti Sharma has delivered the big breakthrough, sending Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu packing for 29. Athapaththu knows that was a huge opportunity missed, and the look on her face says it all. Sri Lanka have lost their biggest hope in this mammoth chase, and India can almost start dreaming of gold.

Live score: Sri Lanka 43/3 (7 overs), chasing 217.

The Indian contingent is up on their feat. It is that kind of a victory.

After losing the first game 11-21, Lakshya beats Naraoka 21-5, 21-19 in the last two games.

The gruelling contest lasts for 1 hour and 6 minutes.

India will now have their top-ranked men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty take the stage. The duo are facing Takuro Hoki/ Yugo Kobayashi who are ranked 9th in the world.

A sensational comeback from Lakshya Sen, who stuns World No.7 Kodai Naraoka in a thrilling 3-set encounter.

Lakshya, comes from 14-19 behind to beat Naraoka 21-19 in the decider.

Sen gets repaid for the trust he showed in the waiting game, forcing Naraoka to make mistakes from the poorer side of the court (drift).

Naraoka has an absolute meltdown in the final moments, as he simply is not able to breach the defence of Sen, who hurts the Japanese with his long rallies and his deceptive half smashes.

Shafali Verma has been just as impactful with the ball as she was with the bat! Her second wicket of the innings, removing Hasini Perera, has put Sri Lanka under serious pressure in this mammoth 217-run chase.

With two wickets already, India’s path towards gold is starting to look clearer.

We are seeing the best of Lakshya Sen right now.

Correct strategy and correct execution against an extremely talent Kodai Naraoka, who is ranked 7th in the world.

Lakshya is forcing Naraoka into long rallies and asking him to force mistakes.

Naraoka is not giving him either, forcing them to the back court and asking him to hit smashes.

Lakshya trails 13-17 in the deciding game.

Lakshya Sen has made Kodai Naraoka's life hell in the first men's singles of the quarter-final tie.

So, What's Happening?

Lakshya has definitely gotten the hang of the drift. He has switched the strategy. Defend, defend, defend, and then hit anything played flat to him hard.

The strategy has paid off and Naraoka is flustered.

Lakshya is trailing 5-7 in the third and final set, and that is probably enough number of points to win on the poor side of the court.

Because after 11 points, the athletes will change the sides of the court - where he will take the favourable side.

The chase is on! India are back out on the field with 217 to defend, and Sri Lanka already have a mountain in front of them. Chamari Athapaththu and Imesha Dulani are at the crease, needing a historic chase to take the gold, while Harmanpreet Kaur has handed the new ball to Kranti Goud.

A stirring comeback from Lakshya Sen!

The Indian shuttler stuns Kodai Naraoka in the second game, winning it 21-5!

The drift is clearly a big differentiating factor in either court.

Naraoka simply could not get any rhythm in his shots. He tossed multiple shuttles wide and hit multiple drops and smashes in the net. Which tells me that, the shuttle is coming down faster than the athletes are expecting.

The opening tie of the quarter-final then moves to the decider.

Lakshya Sen starts from the bad side.

What a way to finish the innings! India have posted a mammoth 216/3 in 20 overs, setting Sri Lanka a huge chase in the Asian Games women’s cricket gold medal match. Smriti Mandhana’s classy 79 laid the foundation, Shafali Verma chipped in with 48, and Richa Ghosh turned up the heat at the death with a sensational 49 off 22 balls. From a solid start to a six-hitting frenzy at the finish, India have given Sri Lanka a mountain to climb.

Live score: India 216/3 (20 overs) vs Sri Lanka in the Asian Games 2026 final

Lakshya Sen has come alive in the second game.

First he dribbles Naraoka at the net and wins the point, and having gained confidence from that, is smashing Naraoka hard on the back hand side.

Lakshya pulls away into a 8-2 lead in no time.

Under pressure Naraoka is making multiple unforced errors.

Lakshya storms into a 11-2 lead. What a sensational comeback.

Not a good start for India.

Lakshya Sen does not have his rhythm at the moment and loses the first match 11-21 in just 18 minutes.

Lakshya hits his toss long in the final point of the opening games, resulting in a big loss.

Kodai Naraoka dominated the pace of the opening game, moving Lakshya Sen front to back at his will.

Lakshya will play the second game from the better side, and hopefully he will get back his rhythm.

Smriti Mandhana was looking set for a big finish, but Sri Lanka have finally removed India’s biggest threat. She goes for 79 after a powerful 45-ball knock, leaving India 163/3 with four overs still to go.

Richa Ghosh is still there, but India have lost three wickets since Shafali Verma’s dismissal. Sri Lanka now have a window to drag this gold-medal clash back into their favour.

Live score: India (163/3 in 17 overs) vs Sri Lanka in Asian Games final

Well, that's a hammering for India in men's team table tennis.

The 2018 bronze medallists bow out after losing in the pre-quarterfinals to Korea 0-3.

Harmeet Desai lost to Jang Woojin 1-3.

Manush Shah lost to Oh Junsung 2-3.

Manav Thakkar lost to An Jaehyun 1-3.

Did India miss the experience of G Sathiyan? The team opted not to field him in the crunch tie against Korea.

Well, that was a tough loss. Mitva Jesangbhai Chaudhari loses to Jingwen Yang of China in women's individual Epee Table of 32 match.

She was leading 5-4 in the first period before losing the match 14-15.

Fine margins!

India only have Taniksha Khatri left in the fray.

She will compete in women's individual Epee Table of 16 match shortly.

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