India has added a new sport to its Asian Games medal list. Jay Meena won bronze in men’s singles soft tennis at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on September 23, becoming the first Indian to win an Asian Games medal in the sport. Meena reached the semifinals after beating the Philippines’ Sherwin Nuguit 4-3, which guaranteed him a medal, before losing 2-4 to Japan’s Takuya Kurosaka. The result was confirmed in the Olympics.com Asian Games report.
Soft tennis has been an official Asian Games sport since 1994, yet India had never reached its podium. Meena’s run, backed by recent World and Asian Championship results, now raises an obvious question: can India turn this lesser-known racket sport into a repeat medal opportunity? The International Soft Tennis Federation’s history of the sport records its move from a 1990 exhibition event to an official Asian Games discipline in 1994.
Key Highlights
- Jay Meena won bronze in men’s singles soft tennis on September 23, 2026.
- It is India’s first Asian Games medal in soft tennis.
- He beat Sherwin Nuguit 4-3 before losing 2-4 to Takuya Kurosaka.
- Meena had already won medals at the World and Asian Soft Tennis Championships.
- India’s men’s team also reached the quarterfinals at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
How Jay Meena Turned A Tight Quarterfinal Into History
Meena’s medal was secured in a tense quarterfinal against Nuguit. The contest swung repeatedly before the Indian edged the deciding game 7-5 and completed a 4-3 victory. That semifinal place guaranteed bronze under the competition format.
The semifinal began badly. Kurosaka took the first three games, forcing Meena to chase the match. Meena won the fourth 4-1 and the fifth 6-4, pulling it back to 2-3. Kurosaka then took the sixth 4-1 and closed the contest 4-2. The full match sequence is available in the Asian Games semifinal report.
Earlier, Meena had beaten Pakistan’s Arain Hussain 4-0 in Group D. His campaign moved quickly from qualification pressure to Indian sporting history.
Why This Bronze Did Not Come From Nowhere
Meena’s rise has been building for several seasons. The Dewas player first encountered soft tennis around his school court after initially wanting to pursue cricket. He began by helping as a ball boy, then moved into competition.
He won men’s singles gold at the 2022 National Games. In 2024, Meena and Aadhya Tiwari earned mixed doubles bronze at the World Soft Tennis Championships, India’s first medal there. A year later, he became the first Indian men’s singles medallist at the Asian Soft Tennis Championships and finished that event with four medals.
Before Aichi-Nagoya, he also took singles bronze at the 2026 Sunchang Open. His preparation included overseas competition and camps in Korea and Japan through Sports Authority of India support and the Target Asian Games Group programme. More details appear in this pre-Games profile of Jay Meena.
Has India Really Found A New Asian Games Medal Sport?
There is reason for optimism, but one bronze does not create a stronghold by itself. What makes soft tennis interesting is the sequence behind Meena’s result. A World Championship medal came in 2024, Asian-level medals followed in 2025, and an Asian Games podium arrived in 2026. That points to steady progress rather than a one-day surprise.
India also showed some team depth in Nagoya. The men beat Laos and Mongolia in the group stage and reached the quarterfinals before losing to Indonesia. Aadhya Tiwari has also collected major international medals alongside Meena.
Soft tennis began in Japan and uses a soft rubber ball on a tennis-sized court. Spin, pace changes and wind play a larger role. The official Aichi-Nagoya soft tennis guide explains how the lighter ball changes play.
What Jay Meena’s Medal Could Change For India
The immediate impact is visibility. On a busy Asian Games day that also brought Mirabai Chanu a weightlifting silver and India more shooting medals, Meena still created a national first. Soft tennis now has an Asian Games medallist Indian youngsters can recognise.
The next test is whether the result brings more international exposure, stronger domestic competition and a deeper player pool. India already has progress at world, continental and Asian Games level. If that continues across singles, mixed doubles and team events, soft tennis could become a genuine medal target rather than an occasional entry.
PMO India also marked the breakthrough in an official X post congratulating Jay Meena, calling his bronze a historic achievement for Indian soft tennis.
FAQs
What medal did Jay Meena win at Asian Games 2026?
Jay Meena won bronze in the men’s singles soft tennis event at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Games.
Why is Jay Meena’s medal historic for India?
It was India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in soft tennis since the sport joined officially.
Who defeated Jay Meena in the semifinal?
Japan’s Takuya Kurosaka defeated Meena 4-2 in the semifinal after the Indian fought back strongly.
What had Jay Meena won before this Asian Games medal?
He previously won World Championship mixed doubles bronze and multiple Asian Championship medals for India.
Can soft tennis become a regular medal sport for India?
Possibly, because recent international results show progress, but sustained depth and funding will decide that.
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