India’s women’s squad gears up for a 10:30 AM showdown against Japan, a match that could seal the nation’s bid to retain the gold from last Games.
Harmanpreet Kaur, the skipper, is already on a roll, having lifted the captaincy after a stellar season. Smriti Mandhana, the highest run‑scorer in women’s internationals, joins her with a record‑breaking century tally. Deepti Sharma, India’s top wicket‑taker in T20Is, will be on the front line, while Shree Charani, the world’s number‑one bowler, is expected to spearhead the attack. Shafali Verma, fresh from a Player‑of‑the‑Series performance at the Women’s Asia Cup, will look to add another feather to her cap.
Teqball fans get a double dose of action. Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza opens the day with a 2:30 AM women's singles qualifier against Japan’s Yuina Sakamoto, followed by a 6:30 AM clash with Cambodia’s Koemyean Dy. If she pushes through, she’ll play the quarter‑final at 9:30 AM. The mixed‑doubles pair of Dsouza and Mohamed Anas Imran Beg will face the Philippines at 10:30 AM, then Thailand, and Kuwait in subsequent group matches.
Soft Tennis sees the trio of Jay Meena, Aryan Thakur, and Yogesh Choudhary take on the men’s team qualification at 5:30 AM. Their performance here will set the tone for the rest of the event, as the team battles it out for a place in the finals.
Japan, entering the tournament only three times, last topped the podium with a bronze in 2010. Their appearance today adds a fresh challenge for India, and a victory would extend the defending champions’ gold‑medal streak. Should the match slip, it would mark the first time India has failed to defend its title at the Asian Games.
After the quarter‑final, the Indian women’s squad will head straight into the semi‑finals tomorrow, while the Teqball and Soft Tennis teams will continue their push for medals in the remaining group stages.