Jay Meena Makes History with India's First Soft Tennis Medal at Asian Games 2026
Historic Achievement for Indian Soft Tennis
In a remarkable feat, Indian soft tennis athlete Jay Meena has dedicated his groundbreaking bronze medal from the Asian Games 2026 to the people of India. He emphasized that this achievement is a culmination of years of dedication from athletes, coaches, families, and everyone involved in nurturing the sport in the country.
Meena made history by securing India's inaugural medal in soft tennis during the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. His journey concluded in the semi-finals, where he faced Japan's Takuya Kurosaka, ultimately losing 2-4. Despite dropping the first three sets, Meena rallied to win 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.
Reflecting on his third appearance at the Asian Games, Meena expressed gratitude for the unwavering support from his coaches, team, and family, which helped him overcome previous disappointments, including a quarter-final exit in 2023. He noted that this medal symbolizes 25 to 30 years of hard work.
Meena stated, "Words cannot capture this feeling. This journey, especially after my previous quarter-final loss, was made possible by our team and the support from our families. They understand the countless nights of disappointment that led to this moment. This medal represents the hard work of my coaches and our entire team."
He extended his thanks to the government, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the Amateur Soft Tennis Federation of India, and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for their backing. Meena believes that with continued support, soft tennis can secure more medals for India, crediting initiatives like the TAGG (Target Asian Games Group) scheme for their success.
Meena remarked, "This is India's first medal in soft tennis, and I urge for more support in the future so that we can achieve even greater success and win more medals for our country. We have full faith in this potential."
He acknowledged the crucial role of government support and the SAI, stating that with the right backing, athletes can achieve remarkable feats. He also highlighted the efforts of the Amateur Soft Tennis Federation of India and the IOA in promoting the sport, which often lacks attention due to its non-Olympic status. Thanks to the TAGG scheme, soft tennis has gained recognition, leading to this historic win.
Wishing the rest of the Indian team success in Aichi-Nagoya, Meena expressed confidence that they would surpass India's previous medal tally at the Asian Games.
He stated, "This is just the beginning. I am confident that the Indian contingent will continue to bring home numerous medals and exceed our past records."
As of now, India has achieved a total of 17 medals at the Asian Games, comprising one gold, seven silver, and nine bronze medals.
Meena's coach, Sudesh Sangate, attributed this historic medal to 22 years of hard work and expressed gratitude to the Sports Ministry for facilitating training camps, including one in Korea, which significantly prepared the team for the Asian Games. He said, "This is the result of 22 years of dedication, and we are thrilled to have brought home India's first medal in soft tennis. We are grateful to the Sports Ministry for their support in organizing training camps that helped us prepare effectively."