Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Jay Meena on Wednesday after the soft tennis player created history by becoming India’s first-ever Asian Games medallist in the sport.
In a post shared through the PMO India account on X, PM Modi hailed Meena’s bronze medal in the men’s individual event and described it as a historic achievement for Indian soft tennis. He said the medal had opened a new chapter for the sport in the country and expressed hope that the achievement would inspire more youngsters to take up soft tennis.
A historic achievement for Indian Soft Tennis!
Congratulations to Jay Meena on winning Bronze in the Men’s Individual event and becoming India’s first-ever Asian Games medallist in Soft Tennis. His achievement marks a memorable new chapter for the sport in India.
May this medal… pic.twitter.com/UMrKAyLrnY
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 23, 2026
Meena secured the bronze after losing 2-4 to Japan’s Takuya Kurosaka in the men’s singles semifinal in Nagoya on Wednesday. His place in the last four came after a dramatic quarterfinal against Sherwin Nuguit.
Meena trailed 3-5 before winning four consecutive points to complete a 4-3 comeback victory.
The win secured India’s maiden Asian Games medal in soft tennis.
Meena’s journey in the sport began unexpectedly. He initially wanted to pursue cricket but became interested in soft tennis after watching players at Pioneer Public School in Dewas, where he worked as a ball boy. He progressed through school, district, state and national competitions before making his international debut in Japan at the age of 14.
The Madhya Pradesh player won men’s singles gold at the 36th National Games in Gujarat in 2022. He later reached the quarterfinals at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
In 2024, Meena and Aadhya Tiwari won mixed doubles bronze at the World Soft Tennis Championships, securing India’s first medal at the event. He became India’s first Asian Soft Tennis Championships medallist in 2025 after winning singles bronze.
Now competing at his third Asian Games, Meena has added another milestone by securing India’s first Asian Games medal in soft tennis.
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