Asian Games 2026: Indian men's soft tennis team exits in QF, beaten 0-2 by Indonesia
Synopsis
India's men's soft tennis team fell to Indonesia in the Asian Games 2026 quarterfinals in Nagoya, going down 0-2. But the campaign isn't fully closed — Jay Meena, one of India's most decorated soft tennis players who secured the country's first-ever World Soft Tennis Championships medal in 2024, continues in mixed doubles and men's singles.
Key Takeaways
India's men's soft tennis team lost 0–2 to Indonesia in the Asian Games 2026 quarterfinals in Nagoya on 18 September .
Jay Meena and Yogesh Choudhary lost their doubles rubber 2–5 ; Aryan Thakur lost singles 3–4 to seal India's exit.
India qualified from the group stage with 4 points from 3 ties , beating Laos and Mongolia while losing to Chinese Taipei.
Jay Meena and Aryan Thakur will compete in men's singles on 22 September ; Meena also plays mixed doubles on 21 September .
Meena is India's first medallist at the Asian Soft Tennis Championships and co-won India's first-ever World Soft Tennis Championships medal in 2024 .
India's men's soft tennis team — comprising Jay Meena, Yogesh Choudhary, Aryan Thakur, Aniket Patel, and Om Yadav — was eliminated from the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya on 18 September, suffering a 0–2 quarterfinal defeat against Indonesia. The loss ends the team's medal pursuit in the team event, though individual competitions remain ahead for select members of the squad.
How the Quarterfinal Unfolded
The match began with Jay Meena and Yogesh Choudhary going down in the men's doubles tie against Indonesia's Tio Hutauruk and Fernendo Sanger, losing 2–5. The contest was effectively settled when Aryan Thakur fell to Bagus Pradewa 3–4 in the singles rubber, sealing Indonesia's progression and ending India's team campaign at the last eight.
India's Group Stage Journey
The Indian side had navigated the group stage with mixed results. They opened with a commanding 3–0 win over Laos — Meena and Choudhary winning the doubles 5–0, Thakur taking singles 4–0, and Patel and Yadav completing the clean sweep. A heavy 0–3 loss to group leaders Chinese Taipei followed, with Meena and Choudhary losing 0–5 and Thakur going down 1–4.
Needing a win to stay alive, India bounced back sharply against Mongolia, sealing a 3–0 result. Patel and Yadav opened with a 5–0 doubles win, Meena contributed a 4–0 singles victory, and Thakur and Choudhary wrapped up the tie in doubles. The result earned India four points from three ties, enough to qualify for the quarterfinals behind Chinese Taipei in the group standings.
What Lies Ahead for the Indian Contingent
The team event may be over, but several Indian athletes continue in the individual draws. Jay Meena and Aryan Thakur are scheduled to compete in the men's singles on 22 September. Meena will also feature in the mixed doubles on 21 September, giving India further opportunities to feature on the medal tally.
Jay Meena: India's Standard-Bearer in Soft Tennis
The Indian campaign is anchored by Meena, widely regarded as one of the country's foremost soft tennis players. The Madhya Pradesh athlete represented India at the 2018 Asian Games and claimed the men's singles gold at the 2022 National Games in Gujarat. In 2024, alongside Aadhya Tiwari, he secured India's first-ever medal at the World Soft Tennis Championships — a bronze in mixed doubles. He subsequently became national champion in 2025 and won bronze in men's singles at the Asian Soft Tennis Championships, becoming the first Indian to claim a medal at the continental event.
With individual events still to play, Meena's historic run in the sport gives India reason to remain watchful as the Asian Games 2026 soft tennis draw continues in Nagoya.
Point of View
But context matters: soft tennis remains a fringe discipline in India's sporting ecosystem, and even reaching the last eight at the Asian Games reflects incremental growth. The real story is Jay Meena — a Madhya Pradesh athlete who has, largely without fanfare, built a continental medal record in a sport most Indians cannot name. The individual events from 21 September onward are where India's genuine podium prospects lie, and Meena's form makes that conversation worth having.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did India's men's soft tennis team perform at Asian Games 2026?
India's men's soft tennis team was eliminated in the quarterfinals at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, losing 0-2 to Indonesia on 18 September. They had reached the last eight by winning two of their three group-stage ties.
Who are the Indian players continuing in the Asian Games 2026 soft tennis individual events?
Jay Meena and Aryan Thakur are scheduled to play in the men's singles on 22 September. Meena will also compete in the mixed doubles on 21 September, keeping India's medal hopes alive in the individual draws.
Who is Jay Meena and why is he significant for Indian soft tennis?
Jay Meena is a Madhya Pradesh-based athlete widely considered India's top soft tennis player. He won men's singles gold at the 2022 National Games, secured India's first-ever World Soft Tennis Championships medal in 2024 (mixed doubles bronze with Aadhya Tiwari), became national champion in 2025, and won bronze at the Asian Soft Tennis Championships — the first Indian to do so.
How did India qualify for the quarterfinals at Asian Games 2026 in soft tennis?
India qualified by finishing second in their group with four points from three ties — beating Laos 3-0 and Mongolia 3-0, while losing 0-3 to Chinese Taipei. Their win over Mongolia in the final group match was decisive in securing a quarterfinal berth.
What was the result of India's quarterfinal against Indonesia in soft tennis?
India lost 0-2 to Indonesia. Jay Meena and Yogesh Choudhary lost the men's doubles 2-5 to Tio Hutauruk and Fernendo Sanger, and Aryan Thakur then lost 3-4 to Bagus Pradewa in singles, ending the team event campaign.
