Jay Meena Makes History, Wins India’s First-Ever Asian Games Soft Tennis Medal

Jay Meena secured India’s first-ever medal in soft tennis at the Asian Games on Wednesday, earning a bronze after losing to Japan’s Takuya Kurosaka in the men’s singles semifinals.

The 26-year-old from Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, produced a fightback after falling three games behind but could not sustain the momentum, going down 2-4 in the 45-minute contest.

Kurosaka took control early, winning the first three games 5-3, 4-1 and 4-1. Meena responded by taking the fourth game 4-1 and then edged the fifth 6-4 to reduce the deficit.

The Japanese player regrouped and closed out the match 4-1 to enter the final. Meena, who had already assured himself of a medal by reaching the semifinals, had to settle for bronze.

Earlier in the day, Meena reached the last four after defeating the Philippines’ Sherwin Nuguit 4-3 in a closely contested quarterfinal. The Indian won the deciding game 7-5 after the two players had traded games throughout the match.

Meena had entered the knockout stage after defeating Pakistan’s Arain Hussain 4-0 in Group D. The medal came in his third Asian Games appearance, having also competed at the 2018 and 2022 editions.

A 2022 National Games gold medallist, Meena has also won a bronze in mixed doubles at the 2024 World Soft Tennis Championship.

Meena struggled to find his rhythm against Kurosaka as the Japanese player built a three-game advantage. The Indian then changed the momentum by taking the fourth and fifth games, but Kurosaka ended the contest in the next game.

Meena’s semifinal appearance ensured that India would win its first Asian Games medal in soft tennis. Kurosaka’s victory sent him into the title match, while Meena finished the singles event with the bronze.

The quarterfinal score was 4-3 (0-4, 4-2, 2-4, 4-2, 5-3, 2-4, 7-5). Meena had earlier defeated Hussain 4-0 in Group D. His earlier international medal came in mixed doubles at the 2024 World Soft Tennis Championship for India too.