Jay Meena has created history by winning India’s first-ever medal in soft tennis at the Asian Games. The Indian player secured a bronze medal in Nagoya after reaching the men’s singles semifinals before losing to Japan’s Takuya Kurosaka 2-4 on Wednesday.
Meena had booked his place in the last four after producing a remarkable comeback against Sherwin Nuguit in the quarterfinal. Trailing 3-5 in the deciding game, he fought back by winning the next four points and completed a 4-3 victory.
Although his semifinal defeat ended his hopes of reaching the final, Meena’s run guaranteed India a historic bronze medal in the sport.
From Cricket Aspirant to Soft Tennis Trailblazer
Meena’s entry into soft tennis was almost accidental. Initially interested in cricket, he dreamed of becoming a cricketer. His sporting journey changed after he joined Pioneer Public School in Dewas, where he discovered a soft tennis court.
Curiosity first brought him to the court as a spectator before he began working as a ball boy. He eventually picked up a racket and started playing.
His progress took him from school and district-level competitions to state and national events. By the age of 14, Meena had already competed internationally in Japan, the birthplace of soft tennis.
National Success and International Breakthrough
Meena established himself as one of India’s leading soft tennis players with a gold medal in men’s singles at the 36th National Games in Gujarat in 2022. He also helped Madhya Pradesh win medals in the men’s team and doubles events.
His international performances continued to improve. At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, he reached the men’s singles quarterfinals and also represented India in the men’s team competition.
In 2024, Meena partnered with Aadhya Tiwari to win bronze in mixed doubles at the World Soft Tennis Championships. The result marked India’s first-ever medal at the world championships.
By 2025, he had added another milestone to his career by becoming the national champion in men’s singles.
More Historic Achievements for Jay Meena
Meena also made history at the 2025 Asian Soft Tennis Championships by becoming the first Indian to win a medal at the continental event. He reached the men’s singles semifinals and secured a bronze medal.
He went on to collect four medals at the continental championships, further strengthening his record in the sport.
The TAGG (Target Asian Games Group) athlete is now making his third Asian Games appearance. Before the Nagoya edition, he had represented India at the Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.
His latest achievement has now added another first to his growing list of milestones, with Meena becoming the first Indian to win an Asian Games medal in soft tennis.