Jay Meena created history for India at the 2026 Asian Games by securing the country’s first-ever medal in soft tennis. On 23 September 2026, Meena reached the men’s singles semi-finals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which guaranteed India at least a bronze medal in the event. His achievement marked the first time India had won a medal in soft tennis at the Asian Games.

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The milestone came after a close quarter-final match against Sherwin Nuguit of the Philippines. Meena won the match 4-3 after a seven-game contest and booked his place in the semi-finals.

Jay Meena Reaches the Semi-Finals

Jay Meena entered the men’s singles soft tennis competition as one of India’s representatives at the Asian Games. His progress through the tournament became historic when he defeated the Philippines’ Sherwin Nuguit in the quarter-final.

The quarter-final was closely contested, with both players winning games during the match. Meena eventually secured the victory with a 4-3 scoreline.

The recorded game scores were 0-4, 4-2, 2-4, 5-3, 2-4 and 7-5, reflecting the competitive nature of the match. After winning the deciding stages, Meena advanced to the semi-finals.

Reaching the semi-finals was enough to secure India a medal because the soft tennis competition awards bronze medals to both losing semi-finalists.

India’s First Soft Tennis Medal

Jay Meena’s semi-final qualification gave India its first-ever Asian Games medal in soft tennis. India had participated in the sport at previous editions of the Asian Games, but had not previously reached the medal positions.

The achievement therefore represents a new milestone for Indian participation in the sport at the continental level.

The medal also adds another sport to India’s Asian Games medal record. Soft tennis has a different playing style and equipment from traditional lawn tennis, making it a separate racket sport with its own rules and competitions.

What Is Soft Tennis?

Soft tennis is a racket sport that is closely related to traditional tennis but uses a softer rubber ball. It is played in singles and doubles formats.

The sport originated in Japan and has developed into a major racket sport in several parts of Asia. It is played with specialised rackets and a softer ball, which creates different movement and playing conditions compared with standard tennis.

Soft tennis has been included in the Asian Games and other multi-sport competitions in Asia. The sport features separate events for men and women, including singles and doubles competitions.

Meena’s Journey to the Quarter-Final

Before facing Sherwin Nuguit in the quarter-final, Jay Meena competed in the men’s singles group stage.

He played in Group D, where he faced Pakistan’s Arain Hussain. Meena won that match 4-0, giving him a strong start in the competition and helping him progress to the knockout stage.

His performance against Nuguit was much more closely fought. Unlike the straight-set group-stage victory, the quarter-final went to seven games before Meena secured the result.

The ability to stay competitive during the deciding stages helped him reach the semi-finals and secure the historic medal for India.

Third Asian Games Appearance

The Aichi-Nagoya Games are Jay Meena’s third Asian Games appearance. He had previously competed at the 2018 and 2022 Asian Games.

His experience from earlier editions has given him exposure to the level of competition involved in a major continental sporting event. The 2026 Games have now become particularly important in his career because he has secured a medal for India in soft tennis.

Participating in three editions also highlights his long involvement in the sport at the international level.

Soft Tennis at Aichi-Nagoya

The 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya feature soft tennis among the medal sports. The competition includes men’s and women’s events and provides players from across Asia with an opportunity to compete at a major multi-sport event.

The sport’s presence at the Asian Games also helps increase its visibility among athletes and sports fans in countries where traditional tennis has a larger following.

For India, Jay Meena’s progress has brought additional attention to soft tennis during the 2026 Games.

A Close Quarter-Final Battle

The quarter-final between Jay Meena and Sherwin Nuguit was one of the key moments in India’s soft tennis campaign. Meena had to recover after losing individual games and continue fighting through a changing scoreline.

The final stages became especially important as both players competed for a place in the semi-finals. Meena eventually completed the 4-3 victory and moved into the medal rounds.

His result shows how closely contested racket-sport matches can be decided by small differences in the final games.

India’s Growing Asian Games Medal List

Jay Meena’s medal adds another sport to India’s achievements at the 2026 Asian Games. India competes across a wide range of sports at the continental event, including athletics, shooting, wrestling, badminton, hockey, cricket and other disciplines.

The soft tennis medal is different because it represents India’s first medal in this particular sport at the Asian Games.

For Jay Meena, the achievement also marks a significant moment after competing at the 2018 and 2022 editions. His semi-final qualification at Aichi-Nagoya has now placed Indian soft tennis in the Asian Games medal record for the first time.