Jay Meena's historic bronze at the Asian Games marks India's first medal in soft tennis.
But the triumph was no fluke; Meena fought off typhoid, a severe hip injury, and self‑doubt before he even stepped onto the court. “I didn't want to settle for bronze,” he told reporters, eyes blazing with the same fire that carried him through those trials.
Since the Amateur Soft Tennis Federation of India launched in 2002, the country has entered four Asian Games—each time hoping for a podium spot. In the fourth, Meena broke the cycle, turning a long‑standing drought into a headline‑making moment.
Now the spotlight shifts to Ahmedabad, where India will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Khodadhara, the federation’s special advisor, is already chanting: “India is the highest‑ranked team among Commonwealth nations. If soft tennis is included, all the gold will stay in India.”
Soft tennis needs little new infrastructure; the same dimensions and surfaces that host lawn tennis courts are perfectly suited. Lakhs of existing courts can accommodate the sport without a single new investment. That means the focus can stay on talent and coaching rather than construction.
The 2030 Games will be the ultimate test of Meena’s promise. If India’s soft tennis squad can convert the bronze into a gold‑laden haul, the dream of an all‑gold medal haul will become reality. The next big challenge: the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Ahmedabad, 2026.