Historic Bronze Medal for India in Soft Tennis at Asian Games 2026

President Murmu Celebrates Soft Tennis Milestone

On Wednesday, President Droupadi Murmu extended her congratulations to Jay Meena, who made history by winning India's inaugural Asian Games medal in soft tennis, securing a bronze in the men's singles category at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. The President described Meena's achievement as a significant milestone for Indian Soft Tennis.

A Message of Inspiration

In a post on X, President Murmu praised Jay Meena for his groundbreaking accomplishment, stating that this bronze medal represents a pivotal moment that could motivate young athletes to engage in the sport. She expressed her heartfelt congratulations, emphasizing that Meena's historic performance has brought India its first medal in this discipline at the Games. The President's message highlighted the potential for this achievement to inspire future generations to aim for excellence in sports.

Meena's Path to the Podium

Meena's journey concluded in the semi-finals, where he faced Japan's Takuya Kurosaka, ultimately losing 2-4. Despite dropping the first three sets, Meena showcased resilience by winning the fourth and fifth sets, narrowing the score to 2-3. However, Kurosaka clinched the sixth set 4-1, finalizing the match with a score of 3-5, 1-4, 1-4, 4-1, 6-4, 1-4, as reported by ESPN. Earlier, Meena secured his semi-final spot by defeating Sherwin Nuguit from the Philippines in a thrilling quarter-final match, ensuring a historic podium finish for India in soft tennis.

India's Growing Medal Count

On the same day, India enhanced its medal tally at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, currently ranking 13th with a total of 12 medals. Notable achievements include Mirabai Chanu winning silver in the women's 49kg weightlifting category and the Indian men's badminton team earning bronze after a 3-1 defeat to China in the semi-finals. Additionally, the women's skeet team, comprising Raiza Dhillon, Parinaaz Dhaliwal, and Maheshwari Chauhan, secured bronze, while Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Mairaj Ahmed Khan, and Bhavtegh Singh also won bronze in the men's skeet team event.