Nagoya: India created history at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 after Jay Meena reached the men’s singles semi-finals in soft tennis, assuring the country of its first-ever medal in the sport at the Asian Games. Meena defeated the Philippines’ Sherwin Nuguit 4-3 in a closely fought quarter-final on Wednesday to book his place in the last four.

The Indian soft tennis player had to fight through a long and fluctuating contest before securing victory. Meena eventually prevailed 0-4, 4-2, 2-4, 5-3, 2-4, 7-5 against Nuguit. His success means that India is guaranteed at least a bronze medal in the men’s singles event, regardless of the outcome of his semi-final.

The achievement marks a significant milestone for Indian soft tennis, which had never previously produced an Asian Games medal.

Meena survives thrilling quarter-final

Meena’s quarter-final against Nuguit was a contest of changing momentum. The Filipino player made a strong start by taking the opening set 4-0, but Meena responded immediately by winning the second 4-2.

Nuguit again moved ahead by taking the third set 4-2, leaving Meena needing to recover once more. The Indian responded with a 5-3 victory in the fourth set before Nuguit claimed the fifth 4-2.

With the match level at crucial stages, Meena held his composure in the decisive stretch. He won the sixth set 7-5 to force the contest towards its conclusion and then completed the 4-3 victory.

The result was enough to send him into the semi-finals and guarantee India a medal. All four players who reach the semi-final stage in the event are assured of a podium finish.

Historic moment for Indian soft tennis

India’s medal in soft tennis comes after years of growing participation and international exposure in the discipline. Meena has been one of the country’s leading players and has already achieved notable results on the international stage.

He and Aadhya Tiwari won India’s first-ever medal at the World Soft Tennis Championships in 2024, claiming bronze in mixed doubles. Meena also became the first Indian to win a medal at the Asian Soft Tennis Championships when he secured bronze in men’s singles in 2025.

Those performances helped establish Meena as an important figure in Indian soft tennis. His latest achievement at the Asian Games represents another milestone, this time at the continental multi-sport event.

Meena has also received support through the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) programme, which has provided Indian athletes with opportunities for international competition exposure and training camps. Reports on India’s soft tennis preparations noted that Meena and other members of the squad had trained and competed in countries where soft tennis has a strong competitive structure.

India had mixed fortunes in soft tennis

Meena’s individual success came after India’s men’s team campaign ended in the quarter-finals. The Indian men’s team had defeated Laos and Mongolia in the group stage before losing to Chinese Taipei. India then faced Indonesia in the quarter-finals and went down 0-2.

Meena was part of the men’s team and also partnered Aadhya Tiwari in the mixed doubles competition. The mixed doubles pair began their campaign with a 5-0 victory over Cambodia’s Viva Chao and Chanroseka Khun. They also faced Mongolia and South Korea during the group stage.

However, Meena and Tiwari’s mixed doubles campaign ended in the round of 16 after they lost 2-5 to the Philippines’ Christy Sanosa and Sherwin Ray Nuguit.

The men’s singles event has therefore provided Meena with another opportunity to make his mark at the Games.

Meena’s singles campaign

Meena’s progress in the singles event included a convincing performance against Pakistan’s Hussain Arain in the group stage. He registered a 4-0 victory in that match, helping him progress further in the competition.

The Indian player then continued his run into the knockout rounds. His quarter-final against Nuguit proved considerably more challenging, but the 4-3 victory ultimately delivered the result he needed.

The semi-final will now give Meena an opportunity to compete for a place in the gold medal match. The outcome of that match will determine whether India’s historic soft tennis campaign ends with a silver or bronze medal, while a victory would take him into the final and keep the gold medal within reach.

Another milestone in Meena’s career

Meena’s Asian Games achievement adds to a series of important results in his career. His 2024 World Soft Tennis Championships bronze with Tiwari was India’s first medal at that competition, while his 2025 Asian Soft Tennis Championship bronze made him the first Indian to win a medal at the continental championship in men’s singles.

He also won bronze in men’s singles at the 2026 Sunchang Open before arriving at the Asian Games. His performances have helped raise the profile of soft tennis in India and have given the country a player capable of competing successfully against established international opponents.

At Aichi-Nagoya, Meena has now gone one step further by guaranteeing India’s maiden Asian Games medal in the discipline.

Focus turns to the semi-final

Meena’s historic quarter-final victory has ensured that India’s wait for a soft tennis medal at the Asian Games is over. The Indian player will now enter the semi-final with a medal already secured and the opportunity to compete for a place in the gold medal match.

His achievement also provides a significant boost to India’s campaign in a sport where the country has been building its presence through international competition and structured training.

For Indian soft tennis, the significance of Meena’s run extends beyond one medal. His progress at the Aichi-Nagoya Games provides another landmark result for a discipline that has been gradually gaining recognition among Indian athletes.

Conclusion

Jay Meena has created Asian Games history by reaching the men’s singles semi-finals in soft tennis at Aichi-Nagoya 2026. His hard-fought 4-3 victory over the Philippines’ Sherwin Nuguit guaranteed India its first-ever Asian Games medal in soft tennis. With the semi-final still to come, Meena now has the opportunity to compete for a place in the gold medal match and add another chapter to his growing international record.