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Jay Meena Wins India’s First Asian Games Soft Tennis Medal
Jay Meena won India’s first Asian Games medal in soft tennis.
He started playing after his school expelled him for a prank.
A coach at another school helped him join a sports academy.
Meena worked hard for about 10 years to reach the international level.
He won bronze after losing his semifinal match to Japan’s Takuya Kurosaka.
Soft tennis gives bronze medals to both players who lose in the semifinals.
Meena says the medal feels like an Olympic medal because soft tennis is not in the Olympics.
He hopes his success encourages more Indian children to play the sport.
Jay Meena won a bronze medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, India’s first soft tennis medal at the event.
The 26-year-old discovered soft tennis after being rusticated from school following a firecracker prank.
Meena lost 2-4 to Japan’s Takuya Kurosaka in the semifinal; both losing semifinalists received bronze medals.
He called the Asian Games bronze equivalent to an Olympic medal because soft tennis is not an Olympic sport.
Meena hopes the medal inspires Indian youngsters and helps soft tennis enter the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad.
- Who
- Indian soft tennis player Jay Meena, coached by Sudesh Sangte.
- What
- Meena won a bronze medal, giving India its first Asian Games soft tennis medal.
- Where
- Nagoya, Japan.
- When
- At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games; the report says he won the medal on Wednesday.
- Why
- He won after reaching the semifinals; his achievement is intended to inspire Indian players and promote soft tennis.
Key facts
- Medallist
- Jay Meena
- Age
- 26
- Medal
- Bronze
- Event
- Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games
- Semifinal result
- Lost 2-4 to Japan’s Takuya Kurosaka
- Historic achievement
- India’s first Asian Games medal in soft tennis
- Future goal
- Inclusion of soft tennis at the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad
Quotes
Jay Meena
Indian soft tennis player and India’s first Asian Games soft tennis medallist
“This feels like an Olympic medal to me because soft tennis is not part of the Olympics. The Asian Games are like the Olympics of Asia, and all the major countries in our sport were here. To win a medal among them is a huge achievement. So, for me and for my country, this is an Olympic medal.”
rediff.com
“Maybe some kids will now say, 'If he can win a medal at the Asian Games for India, I can do it too.' That is the impact I want this medal to have on Indian soft tennis.”
rediff.com
Sources
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