Jay Meena wins bronze: How a ball boy made Asian Games history for India

Dubai: At the age of 26, Jay Meena made Asian Games history for India by becoming the nation's first medalist in soft tennis. The remarkable journey of the 26-year-old began when he worked as a ball boy during school matches. In 2025, Meena claimed India's first World Soft Tennis Championships medal, showcased his prowess by winning gold at the 2022 National Games, and emerged as the national singles champion. His latest achievement is the bronze medal he secured at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.

Meena's path to the podium was nothing short of extraordinary. Despite coming from a background where cricket was the expected choice, he discovered a passion for soft tennis during his school days. Initially serving as a ball boy, Meena climbed through the ranks, competing in district, state, and national tournaments, and representing India internationally at the tender age of 14.

In the 2024 Aichi-Nagoya Games, Meena began his quarterfinal journey with a stunning 4-3 victory over the Philippines' Sherwin Nuguit. The Indian's breakout moment came after dropping the opening game 4-0, but he refused to back down. In the deciding game, Meena held his nerve and emerged victorious with a score of 7-5, guaranteeing his place in the semifinals.

In the semifinals, Meena faced Japan's Takuya Kurosaka and again displayed resilience, winning 4-2 after another impressive performance. His medal, particularly symbolic in Japan, is a testament to the sport's origins there – soft tennis was invented in the 1880s. The game shares similarities with traditional tennis but uses lightweight rubber balls and a unique scoring system, where players aim to reach four points to win a game, and matches are typically played over seven or nine games.