Photo via Hindustan Times

India vs Japan Asian Games Women LIVE: Harmanpreet Kaur wins the toss and decides to bowl at Nisshin

Reigning champions India began their Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games campaign against host nation Japan in a quarterfinal fixture at Nisshin. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the coin toss and opted to field, looking to restrict the opposition early.

The squad arrived with strong momentum after claiming the Asia Cup title the prior Sunday via an undefeated run through five matches, recording victories over Thailand, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Opening the bowling, Kranti Gaud conceded only two runs in the initial over, which featured a double struck by Haruna Iwasaki alongside her partner Akari Nishimura Kano. India's lineup also features Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Gunalan Kamalini, Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Shree Charani, Shreyanka Patil, and Nandani Sharma.

Whoever secures victory in this encounter will advance to face Bangladesh in the semifinals, after Bangladesh progressed past China due to a superior ranking following an abandoned washout.