India, Nov. 3 -- Tears flowed freely as Harmanpreet Kaur sank into Smriti Mandhana's arms amid the roar of the Navi Mumbai crowd, echoing India's long-awaited moment. Under the blazing lights of the DY Patil Stadium, decades of heartbreak finally melted away - from Centurion 2005 to Lord's 2017 to Melbourne 2020. It wasn't just a victory; it was the culmination of a belief, resilience, and unfinished dreams that spanned generations. For Harmanpreet and her side, it wasn't about records; it was about writing destiny and giving India its first Women's World Cup crown.

Moments after India beat South Africa in front of a packed home crowd, Harmanpreet couldn't hold back her emotions when vice-captain Mandhana walked up and embraced her. Tear...