India has a new milestone in soft tennis, and Jay Meena is at the heart of it.

The Indian player secured a historic bronze medal in men’s singles at the Asian Games 2026, becoming the first Indian to win an Asian Games medal in soft tennis. Meena’s campaign ended in the semi-final, where he lost 2-4 to Japan’s Takuya Kurosaka. But reaching the last four had already guaranteed him a place in Indian sporting history.

But What Exactly Is Soft Tennis?

Soft tennis may look familiar, but it has some interesting differences from conventional tennis. The game is played with a hollow rubber ball measuring 6.6 cm and weighing around 30-31 grams. The lighter ball is more affected by wind and can generate considerably more spin.

The racquet is also different. It is generally lighter and more flexible, with lower string tension. The court remains the same size as a regular tennis court, while the net stands at the standard height of 1.07 metres.

The sport originated in Japan in the late 19th century before spreading to several parts of Asia and Eastern Europe. It made its Asian Games debut in 1994 and has since become an established part of the continental sporting programme.

A Comeback That Changed Everything

The road to the podium was anything but easy. In the quarter-final against the Philippines' Shewin Nuguit, Meena found himself trailing 3-5 in the deciding game. With defeat just four points away, his Asian Games campaign appeared to be slipping away. Then came a stunning turnaround.

Meena won four consecutive points to overturn the deficit and clinch a dramatic 4-3 victory. The comeback not only sent him into the semi-finals but also secured India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in the sport. His run ended against Japan's Takuya Kurosaka.

It All Started on a School Court

Meena’s journey to the Asian Games podium began far away from the spotlight. Cricket was initially his dream, but that changed when he joined Pioneer Public School in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh. There, he discovered a soft tennis court.

At first, he watched others play and helped as a ball boy. Curiosity soon turned into passion, and he began playing the sport himself. His progress was rapid. From school competitions, he moved to district, state and national tournaments. By the age of 14, he was already competing internationally in Japan, the home of soft tennis.

A Career Built on Firsts

Meena’s Asian Games medal adds to a growing list of historic achievements. He won men’s singles gold at the 36th National Games in Gujarat in 2022 and became the national champion in 2025. In 2024, he partnered with Aadhya Tiwari to win bronze in mixed doubles at the World Soft Tennis Championships, giving India its first-ever medal at the world championships.

He also became the first Indian to win a medal in men’s singles at the Asian Soft Tennis Championships, later collecting four medals at the continental event. Now, with an Asian Games bronze, Meena has opened another new chapter for Indian soft tennis.

His bronze marks a new chapter for Indian soft tennis and could inspire more young players to pick up the racquet.