Jay Meena puts softball tennis in spotlight with India’s first Asian Games medal

Nagoya: Every four years, multi-discipline events shine a spotlight on sports that otherwise struggle for relevance and recognition. Softball tennis is one such sport.Introduced in India in 2002, it made its Asian Games debut in 2010 and has spent much of its existence away from the mainstream.Asian Games Full Coverage | Schedule | Medal TallyOn Wednesday, Jay Meena changed that, putting the sport in the spotlight by winning India’s first medal in the discipline.Meena settled for bronze after losing 2-4 to Japan’s Takuya Kurosaka in a 45-minute semifinal.But there was a touch of symmetry to his achievement. India’s first medal in the sport came in Japan, the country where softball tennis originated.The 25-year-old from Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, started out as a cricketer before taking up softball tennis. An Asian Championship medallist, Meena was disappointed at missing out on a place in the final, but the joy of standing on the podium quickly took over.Meena believes the bronze can be a turning point for him.“This is just the beginning. The medal gives me motivation to aim higher,” he said.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.