Jay Meena secures India's first-ever Asian Games medal in soft tennis
Synopsis
Jay Meena started life as a cricket-mad ball boy at a school court in Dewas — and on Wednesday in Nagoya, he became the first Indian to guarantee an Asian Games medal in soft tennis. A bronze is already his, and a semifinal awaits. It is one of Indian sport's more quietly extraordinary origin stories.
Key Takeaways
Jay Meena confirmed India's first-ever Asian Games medal in soft tennis by reaching the men's singles semifinals in Nagoya on 23 September .
He is assured of at least a bronze , with his semifinal match scheduled later the same day.
Meena's soft tennis journey began at Pioneer Public School in Dewas ; he was initially a cricket enthusiast who started as a ball boy.
He won India's first World Soft Tennis Championships medal (mixed doubles bronze) in 2024 , partnering Aadhya Tiwari .
At the Asian Soft Tennis Championships 2025 , he claimed four medals including a bronze in men's singles — the first Indian to medal at that event.
Nagoya marks his third Asian Games appearance , following Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2022 .
Jay Meena etched his name into Indian sports history on Wednesday, 23 September, becoming the first Indian to guarantee a medal at the Asian Games in soft tennis after storming into the men's singles semifinals at Nagoya. His quarterfinal victory ensures at least a bronze medal — a landmark moment for a sport that has long remained on the fringes of Indian sporting consciousness.
A Journey That Began on a Cricket Pitch
Meena's path to continental glory was far from conventional. Growing up, he harboured dreams of becoming a cricketer, not a soft tennis champion. It was only after enrolling at Pioneer Public School in Dewas that fate intervened — a soft tennis court on campus caught his attention, and a curious schoolboy who began as a ball boy gradually transformed into a national icon.
From school competitions, he climbed steadily through district, state, and national circuits. Remarkably, by the age of 14, Meena was already competing internationally in Japan — the spiritual home of soft tennis — signalling a talent that transcended his modest beginnings.
Domestic Dominance and International Breakthrough
Meena announced himself at the national level by clinching the men's singles gold at the 36th National Games in Gujarat in 2022, while also contributing to Madhya Pradesh's medal haul in the Men's Team and Doubles events. He further cemented his standing by becoming the National Champion in Men's Singles in 2025.
His international credentials were already formidable before Nagoya. At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, he reached the men's singles quarterfinals and featured in India's team event. In 2024, partnering Aadhya Tiwari, he won India's first-ever medal at the World Soft Tennis Championships — a bronze in mixed doubles.
Making History at Every Continental Level
Meena's historic run did not stop there. At the Asian Soft Tennis Championships in 2025, he became the first Indian to win a medal at the continental championships, securing bronze after reaching the men's singles semifinals. He went on to claim a total of four medals at that event — a performance that underlined his status as India's premier soft tennis player.
Wednesday's semifinal berth at Nagoya marks his third Asian Games appearance, having previously represented India at Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2022. As a TAGG (Target Asian Games Group) athlete, Meena trained under National Coaching Camps in Ahmedabad and Jammu in preparation for the Asian Championship and Asian Games respectively.
What Comes Next
With at least a bronze already secured, Meena will contest his semifinal later on Wednesday, giving India the chance of an even higher finish. A sport born from a chance encounter on a school campus now has its finest hour — and Meena's story is far from over.
Point of View
Not a national academy, produced this trailblazer. Soft tennis receives negligible mainstream coverage despite India having a demonstrably world-class performer. The real question now is whether this medal triggers sustained institutional investment in the sport, or remains a footnote celebrated briefly before attention returns to cricket and badminton. India's medal ceiling in niche Olympic and Asian Games disciplines is often set by funding availability rather than talent scarcity — Meena is evidence of both the potential and the systemic gap.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What historic milestone did Jay Meena achieve at the 2026 Asian Games?
Jay Meena became the first Indian to guarantee a medal at the Asian Games in soft tennis by reaching the men's singles semifinals in Nagoya on 23 September 2026. His quarterfinal victory secures at least a bronze medal for India.
How did Jay Meena get into soft tennis?
Meena initially aspired to be a cricketer but discovered soft tennis after enrolling at Pioneer Public School in Dewas, where he first watched players and worked as a ball boy before taking up the sport himself. By age 14, he was competing internationally in Japan.
What other major soft tennis medals has Jay Meena won?
Meena won India's first-ever World Soft Tennis Championships medal — a mixed doubles bronze with Aadhya Tiwari in 2024. In 2025, he became the first Indian to medal at the Asian Soft Tennis Championships, ultimately claiming four medals at that event.
Is the 2026 Asian Games Jay Meena's first appearance at the Games?
No, Nagoya 2026 is Meena's third Asian Games appearance. He previously represented India at the Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, reaching the men's singles quarterfinals at the 2022 edition.
What is TAGG and how does it relate to Jay Meena?
TAGG stands for Target Asian Games Group, a programme that identifies and supports Indian athletes with strong potential at the Asian Games. Meena is a TAGG athlete and trained under National Coaching Camps in Ahmedabad and Jammu in preparation for the Asian Championship and Asian Games respectively.
