Indian soft tennis player Jay Meena scripted history on Wednesday, 23 September in Nagoya, winning the country's first-ever Asian Games medal in the sport — a bronze in the men's singles event. Riding the high of that landmark achievement, the 28-year-old made a direct promise to Prime Minister Narendra Modi: if soft tennis is included in the 2030 Commonwealth Games, to be hosted in Ahmedabad, India will sweep all five gold medals on offer.

The Historic Medal Moment

Meena's path to the bronze podium was anything but straightforward. In the quarterfinal, he trailed 3-5 in the deciding game against Sherwin Nuguit before mounting a stunning four-point winning run to seal a 4-3 victory. His semifinal run ended against Japan's Takuya Kurosaka, who defeated him 4-2, but the bronze was already secured — and with it, a place in Indian sporting history. Meena is making his third Asian Games appearance, having previously competed at Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2022.

The Promise to the Prime Minister

'If soft tennis is added to the Commonwealth in 2030, I would like to say this live. I promise you, sir. I personally promise our prime minister. Five out of five gold medals will be in India in soft tennis,' Meena said. He doubled down on the commitment, adding: 'I am telling you this right now. If soft tennis is added to the Commonwealth in 2030, this is my promise, sir. I have faith in my team. This is the dedication that gives us confidence. We deserve to win medals at that level.'

The Case for Soft Tennis Infrastructure

Beyond the pledge, Meena made a pointed policy argument for fast-tracking the sport's inclusion in major multi-sport events. He noted that soft tennis requires no new infrastructure investment, as it can be played on existing lawn tennis courts — whether grass, clay, or synthetic. 'You have hotels, accommodation, and courts. What else do you need to develop this game?' he said. The argument is notable given that infrastructure costs are often cited as a barrier to including emerging sports in Games programmes.

A Difficult Road to Bronze

The medal came against the backdrop of a challenging overall campaign for the Indian soft tennis contingent. The men's team suffered a quarterfinal exit against Indonesia on 18 September, and Meena and partner Aadhya Tiwari were eliminated in the pre-quarterfinals of the mixed doubles event. The individual bronze, therefore, carried added emotional weight. 'This medal was necessary because I and my team have seen very bad days. This medal disturbed our sleep, peace, and the mental health of the whole family,' Meena said. He described the Tiranga as 'not just a medal and a flag — it is the hope of millions of people.'

Government Support and What's Next

Meena credited the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) programme — a government initiative providing elite athletes with funding, training camps, and equipment — for making the medal possible. 'The government has done everything for us. So, it was our duty to win a medal,' he said. He also thanked his coach and the soft tennis federation. His hope is that the bronze will trigger a 'different wave' for the sport in India, inspiring a new generation to pick up the racket. With the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad on the horizon, the push to include soft tennis in the programme is now squarely in the spotlight.