India’s kabaddi double! Men beat Iran to defend gold after women’s triumph at Asian Games

Jay Meena fought through typhoid, a hip injury, and self-doubt to become India's first Asian Games medalist in Soft Tennis. At 25, Meena was hospitalized and bedridden with typhoid, losing eight kilograms before being sent home to Dewas, Madhya Pradesh. Recovery took a toll, as he felt dizzy after walking short distances and had a nagging hip pain that hindered his backhand.

Despite these challenges, Meena returned to action just in time for the Tokyo Olympics and Nagoya Games.He secured the bronze medal after winning a grueling match against Japan's Takuya Kurosaka in the semi-finals. Meena struggled with the predominantly seafood menu offered during the Games, choosing to consume corn, bread, butter, milk, and cereal.

His mental fortitude was tested multiple times, as India's men's team lost to Indonesia in the quarter-finals, and Meena and Aadhya Tiwari failed to reach the round of 16 in mixed doubles. Still, Meena's father remained steadfast in his support, traveling with him to national tournaments and accompanying him to Japan for the Asian Games.

The sacrifices extended to Meena's younger brother Yash, who was forced to abandon his Soft Tennis career to pursue engineering, as their family could not afford to support both siblings simultaneously.