– by Pratyusha Mukherjee, Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
What began as a chance encounter with a Soft Tennis court at a school in Dewas has evolved into a remarkable international career for Jay Meena, who has emerged as one of India’s leading Soft Tennis players.
As a young boy, Jay was more inclined towards cricket and dreamed of becoming a cricketer. His journey in Soft Tennis began after he joined Pioneer Public School in Dewas, where he came across a Soft Tennis court. Initially curious, he would watch the players and eventually started helping as a ball boy. Before long, he picked up a racket himself and began competing at the school and district levels.
His progress was rapid. Jay moved through the state and national ranks and, by the age of 14, had begun representing India internationally in Japan, the birthplace of Soft Tennis.
Jay established himself on the national stage with a landmark performance at the 36th National Games in Gujarat in 2022, where he won the Gold Medal in Men’s Singles. He also contributed to Madhya Pradesh’s medal-winning performances in the Men’s Team and Doubles events. In 2025, he further underlined his standing in Indian Soft Tennis by becoming the National Champion in Men’s Singles.
His international journey has been marked by a series of historic performances. At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Jay reached the quarter-finals of the Men’s Singles event and represented India in the Men’s Team competition.
In 2024, partnering Aadhya Tiwari, Jay created history at the 17th World Soft Tennis Championship by winning Bronze in Mixed Doubles—the first-ever medal for India at the World Soft Tennis Championships. He also secured a Bronze medal in Mixed Doubles at the Korea Cup in 2024.
The following year brought another significant milestone. At the 9th Asian Soft Tennis Championship in 2025, Jay became the first Indian to win a medal at the continental championships after reaching the Men’s Singles semi-finals and securing Bronze. He went on to win a total of four medals at the championship—Bronze in Men’s Singles, Mixed Doubles, Men’s Team and Mixed Team events.
His medal-winning run continued in 2026 at the Sunchang Open, where he secured Bronze in Men’s Singles.
Jay has also enjoyed success at regional and international events, winning Gold in Men’s Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles at the 1st South Asian Soft Tennis Championship and Gold in the same three events at the 2nd India International Soft Tennis Championship.
A key part of Jay’s development has been sustained institutional support. As a TAGG athlete, he has been supported through National Coaching Camps in Ahmedabad and Jammu as part of his preparation for the Asian Championship and Asian Games. He has also received assistance for foreign exposure in Korea and Japan, as well as overseas training in Japan. Support has additionally been extended towards sport-specific equipment, including rackets, shoes and recovery equipment.
From watching Soft Tennis players on a school court in Dewas to standing on the podium at World and Asian championships, Jay Meena’s journey is a story of perseverance, opportunity and sustained progress. As he prepares for his third Asian Games appearance, having previously represented India at Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2022, his journey continues to add new chapters to the story of Indian Soft Tennis.
