India’s Jay Meena secures the country’s first-ever medal in soft tennis at the Asian Games, reaching the men’s singles semi-finals at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 event and finishing with bronze after a loss in the last four.
Multiple outlets report that Meena plays the last stages against Japan’s Takuya Kurosaka, where he loses 2-4 in a match lasting about 45 minutes, while his earlier quarter-final win over the Philippines’ Sherwin Nuguit helps him lock in at least a bronze medal. NDTV and other reports highlight that advancement to the semi-finals itself assures India’s first soft tennis medal.
Some coverage focuses on the match path and outcomes, including Meena’s quarter-final fightback after being behind and the final score in the semi-final. Other outlets also provide background: they describe Meena’s earlier sports interest in cricket, his progression from school and district-level play to national and international events, and prior Asian Games appearances, including reaching the quarter-finals in men’s singles at Hangzhou 2022. One outlet also notes Meena’s public remarks about soft tennis’ inclusion and India’s ambitions ahead of future multi-sport events.
