IND-W vs JAP-W Live Score: India face hosts Japan in the Women's T20I quarter-final at the Asian Games today. (CREIMAS)

Questions may persist about the transition and a wobbly middle order, but the bid for a gold medal in Aichi-Nagoya will take priority for now. India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her team will, therefore, be fully focused on the “process” as their T20I campaign at the Asian Games gets underway today.

Bagging an eighth Asia Cup title in relatively better cricketing conditions in the United Arab Emirates last week against similar continental rivals will count India as overbearing favourites. And the middle-order frailties and the captain’s own dipping form may not unravel at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin over the next four days.

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Having clinched the gold four years ago beating Sri Lanka, the same opponent they trumped last week in the Asia Cup final in Dubai last week, India are likely to take a similar path to the gold medal match, starting with a quarter-final clash against the hosts Japan. There are no threats on paper, for even inclement weather will not stop the Indians marching forward in case of another washout in the city.

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India not a sporting superpower, but can make presence felt at Asian Games

India has won 778 medals at Asian Games till date from 19 editions – 183 of them being gold. China has 3,570 in all, with 1,674 gold; that too from 14 outings.

Those numbers – and a small, unassuming knick-knack tucked inside the goodie-bag given to every Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games athlete – can put the next fortnight into perspective. It’s a small fist-sized sauce-plate, the Japanese trick for portion control, never overwhelming the dish with the dip. READ THE FULL ASIAN GAMES PREVIEW FROM SHIVANI NAIK

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