Nagoya, September 23 (Daily Kiran) : Indian soft tennis player Jay Meena has made history by winning the first singles medal for India at the Asian Games. His coach, Sudesh Sangte, expressed deep emotion over this achievement, attributing it to 22 years of hard work. Meena secured the bronze medal in the men’s singles competition, adding a significant milestone to Indian soft tennis.
In the semifinals, Meena faced Japan’s Takuya Kurosaka, losing 2-4. However, his performance up to that point guaranteed him a bronze medal. Earlier, in the quarter-finals, he staged a remarkable comeback against Sherwin Nuguijt from the Philippines, winning the decisive game 4-3 after being down 3-5.
Speaking about the achievement, Coach Sangte said, “We have worked hard for 22 years. I have been training Jay since he was 10 years old. He has also won medals in singles, mixed doubles, and world championships. He has given India this historic gift. I am extremely happy and emotional.”
Sangte revealed that he shed tears on the court, stating, “Today, my 22 years of hard work has paid off. I hope more children in India will take up soft tennis, and we will win many medals in the future.”
He thanked the Indian government for supporting a 20-day training camp in Japan before the Games. “I want to congratulate the Indian government. The training camp was very beneficial for us. This is the first time the Indian soft tennis team has won a singles medal at the Asian Games. We have made history.”
The team initially faced disappointment when the men’s team lost in the quarter-finals to Indonesia on September 18. Following that, Meena and partner Aadhya Tiwari were eliminated in the mixed doubles pre-quarterfinals. Nevertheless, Meena’s outstanding performance in the men’s singles led to the historic bronze.
Sangte also mentioned challenges related to food during their stay in Japan. “We faced issues with food. We brought some supplies from India and cooked for ourselves. The players struggled, but they overcame all challenges.”
Meena’s achievements now include a historic bronze medal at the Asian Games, a gold medal in men’s singles at the 2022 National Games, and becoming the national champion in 2025. He also won India’s first mixed doubles medal at the 2024 World Soft Tennis Championship with Aadhya Tiwari and was the first Indian to win a medal at the 2025 Asian Soft Tennis Championship.
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