Jay Meena makes history and secures India’s first soft tennis Asian Games medal

Nagoya: Aadhya Tiwari and Jay Meena of India (PTI Photo) Jay Meena scripted India at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, securing the country’s first-ever medal in soft tennis after reaching the semi-finals of the men’s singles.Meena outlasted Sherwin Nuguit of the Philippines in a thrilling quarter-final to win 4-3 in a match that went all the way to the end.The Indian withstood several momentum swings before sealing a 0-4, 4-2, 2-4, 5-3, 2-4, 7-5 victory against his Filipino opponent.His finish in the last four guarantees Meen a medal, with all four semi-finalists assured of a place on the podium. This achievement also means that India will return from the Asian Games with its first soft tennis medal.Meena will now turn her attention to the semi-finals, with a gold medal match within reach as she looks to extend her remarkable run in Aichi-Nagoya.India also saw an encouraging development in shooting on Wednesday, with two-time Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker advancing to the final of the individual 10m air pistol.Bhaker produced a strong qualifying performance to secure a place in the medal round, although fellow Indian shooters Suruchi Inder Singh and Esha Singh missed out on the final.