Asian Games 2023, Cricket: Men Must Win Gold Now After Women’s Victory

India not only won its first-ever Asian Games medal in cricket thanks to the Indian women’s cricket team’s outstanding performance in the 2023 Asian Games. It has also placed pressure on their male counterparts to accomplish the feat on October 7, when the multi-sport competition’s gold medal match will be contested. The Indian Cricket Board has sent a substantially less talented men’s squad to the Hangzhou Asian Games in preparation for the 2023 ODI World Cup.

 

Jemimah Rodrigues, a top-order batsman for India, challenged the men’s squad to go for the gold on Monday after the women’s team made history in the Asian Games final. “We have communicated with the men’s team. After winning, Rodrigues stated, “We’ve told them we’re delivering the gold; you guys bring it, too.

 

In their first participation, the Indian women’s team defeated Sri Lanka by 19 runs in the championship match to win the gold medal.

 

Beginning on October 3, the Indian men’s cricket squad will compete in the Asian Games 2023. Due to their strong ranking in the competition, they will face an undetermined opponent in the quarterfinals (depending on who qualifies). On October 6, the semifinals, and on October 7, the summit match, respectively, are planned.

 

The experience of becoming the first Indian team to win a gold medal, according to Rodrigues, is unique. “Being the first Indian cricket team to win the gold will prompt people to look back in time and realize that this was the squad that truly took home the first-ever cricket gold at the Asian Games. It’s an incredible sensation,” she said.

 

 

It is a great thing to represent your nation at such an elite competition, but given that India will not be sending their first-choice men’s squad to the Asiad, it would seem that they do not place as much value on the Asian Games as they do on the women’s competition.

 

The 2023 ODI World Cup conflicting with the Asian Games, when India would be fielding their finest squad, is the main cause of this, of course. India has won the ODI World Cup twice, in 1983 and 2011, and they most recently won the 2023 Asia Cup, which they won by a lopsided score over Sri Lanka.

 

On November 19, when the 2023 ODI World Cup final will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, they will be attempting to add a third ODI World Cup title to their collection.

 

But it is also impossible to downplay the significance of the Asian Games. To increase India’s total number of medals at the Games, according to Rodrigues, made him feel pleased.

 

Wearing this India shirt is a subject of great pride, and it is a totally different experience. Additionally, we may award India a medal for its achievements in sports, she said.

 

Hrishikesh Kanitkar, the coach of the Indian women’s cricket team and a former international cricketer, expressed his happiness at having contributed to the nation’s success.

 

“We give this gold the highest ranking since it raises the total number of gold medals won by the nation. Therefore, I believe it is crucial that we make a direct contribution to the nation, he stated.