“I enjoyed fully”: PT Usha celebrates India’s gold after Pakistan win
IOA President PT Usha expresses joy as India defeats Pakistan to defend the men's cricket gold at the 2026 Asian Games.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha has expressed immense delight following India's successful defence of the men's cricket gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games. The victory came after a high-stakes encounter where India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by 19 runs on Saturday, pushing India's gold medal tally to 19.
A Thrilling Victory Over Pakistan
The men's cricket final was a rollercoaster of emotions. Batting first, the Indian side set a formidable target of 211/6, fueled by explosive performances from Abhishek Sharma, who smashed 61 off just 28 balls, and Tilak Varma, who remained unbeaten on 51 off 22 deliveries.
In response, Pakistan struggled to chase down the target despite a brilliant 96-run knock from Hasan Nawaz. The Indian bowling attack held their nerve, with Washington Sundar (2/29), Shivam Dube (2/33), and Axar Patel playing crucial roles to restrict Pakistan to 192/6. This win completes a magnificent double for India, following the earlier triumph of the women's cricket team.
PT Usha Relives the Tense Moments
Speaking to the media, PT Usha shared her excitement about the match's intensity. She admitted to being a nervous spectator during the middle overs when India had taken three wickets.
"Enjoyed fully. When it was 3 wickets, I wanted one wicket then Jay Shah was saying that there is no problem even if wickets don't fall, so don't worry. But for me, I wanted one wicket just to go," Usha remarked, recalling the nail-biting tension of the final.
Usha also lauded the consistency of both the men's and women's cricket squads, noting that the players are performing at a high level. She emphasized that while fluctuations in medal counts are a natural part of sports, patience is key as the athletes continue their campaigns.
Eyes on the Next Target: Hockey
The IOA President revealed that she has been constantly on the move between different venues to support Indian athletes. Her next destination is the hockey venue, where she hopes to see more gold medals for the nation.
"And now we are going for next venue. The problem is venue to venue so far, but I am running and going for another one, hockey. I want to see there winning gold medal," she said.
India's Asian Games Tally So Far
With this latest victory, India's overall medal haul at the Asian Games has reached a significant milestone. The current tally stands at:
- Gold: 19
- Silver: 26
- Bronze: 36
This brings the total medal count to 81 as India continues its dominant run in the games.