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Jay Meena Wins India's First Asian Games Soft Tennis Medal

Jay Meena took bronze in the men's individual soft tennis event to become India's first-ever Asian Games medallist in the sport, the Prime Minister said.

By Published · 2 min read
Jay Meena Wins India's First Asian Games Soft Tennis Medal — GK24 title card

Why in News

On 23 September 2026 the Prime Minister congratulated Jay Meena for becoming India's first-ever Asian Games medallist in soft tennis, Mirabai Chanu for a silver in the women's 49 kg weightlifting event, and the women's skeet team for a bronze.

Indian sport gathered a clutch of medals on 23 September 2026, and the Prime Minister's Office sent out three separate congratulatory messages during the day. The one that makes history belongs to Jay Meena, who won the bronze medal in the men's individual event in soft tennis and in doing so became India's first-ever Asian Games medallist in the sport.

A first for Indian soft tennis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the result a historic achievement for Indian soft tennis and said it opens a memorable new chapter for the game in the country. He added that he hoped the medal would draw many more young players to soft tennis, and wished Jay Meena well for the road ahead. Soft tennis is a racquet game close to tennis but played with a soft rubber ball, and it has long been dominated by East Asian countries, which is why an Indian podium finish counts as a breakthrough.

Mirabai Chanu adds a silver

The Prime Minister also congratulated Mirabai Chanu on her silver medal in the women's 49 kg weightlifting event. He said her determination and consistency keep inspiring the country, and that India is proud of her. Chanu competes in the lightest Olympic weight class for women, and her steady presence on international podiums has made her one of the best known names in Indian weightlifting.

Bronze for the women's skeet team

A third message went to the shooters Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Maheshwari Chauhan and Raiza Dhillon, who won the bronze medal in the women's skeet team event. The Prime Minister credited their focus, precision and teamwork, and called it another proud moment for Indian sport. Skeet is a shotgun event in which the shooter fires at clay targets thrown across the range from two houses, and the team medal is decided by adding the scores of the members.

What to carry into the exam hall

Three names, three medals: a soft tennis bronze that is a national first, a weightlifting silver in the 49 kg class, and a shooting bronze in the women's skeet team event.

Important Facts

Historic firstJay Meena, India's first-ever Asian Games medallist in soft tennis
Jay Meena's medalBronze, men's individual event
Mirabai ChanuSilver, women's 49 kg weightlifting
Women's skeet teamBronze, in shooting
Skeet team membersParinaaz Dhaliwal, Maheshwari Chauhan and Raiza Dhillon
Announced byPrime Minister's Office, on 23 September 2026

Exam Point of View

Remember Jay Meena with soft tennis and the words first-ever Asian Games medallist, Mirabai Chanu with weightlifting and the 49 kg class and the colour silver, and the trio of Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Maheshwari Chauhan and Raiza Dhillon with the women's skeet team bronze in shooting.

Practice Questions

Q1.SportsEasy

Who became India's first-ever Asian Games medallist in soft tennis?

  1. A.Jay Meena
  2. B.Mirabai Chanu
  3. C.Raiza Dhillon
  4. D.Maheshwari Chauhan
Show answer

Correct answer: A. Jay Meena

Explanation

The correct answer is Jay Meena. He won the bronze medal in the men's individual event in soft tennis and thereby became the first Indian ever to win an Asian Games medal in that sport. The Prime Minister described the result as a historic achievement for Indian soft tennis, said it marks a memorable new chapter for the game in India, and expressed the hope that it would inspire more youngsters to take up the sport. Option B, Mirabai Chanu, is wrong because she is a weightlifter and was congratulated the same day for a silver medal in the women's 49 kg event, not for anything in soft tennis. Option C, Raiza Dhillon, and option D, Maheshwari Chauhan, are wrong because both are shooters who were part of the women's skeet team that won a bronze medal, along with Parinaaz Dhaliwal.

Q2.SportsMedium

Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in which event?

  1. A.Women's 45 kg weightlifting
  2. B.Women's 49 kg weightlifting
  3. C.Women's 55 kg weightlifting
  4. D.Women's skeet individual
Show answer

Correct answer: B. Women's 49 kg weightlifting

Explanation

The correct answer is the women's 49 kg weightlifting event. The Prime Minister congratulated Mirabai Chanu on winning the silver medal in that category, saying her determination and consistency continue to inspire the nation and that India is proud of her. The weight class is the detail an examiner will test, so it should be memorised along with the colour of the medal. Option A, 45 kg, and option C, 55 kg, are other weight categories in the sport but are not the one in which she competed here. Option D, women's skeet individual, belongs to shooting and not to weightlifting; on the same day a women's skeet team bronze went to Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Maheshwari Chauhan and Raiza Dhillon, which is a separate result and a team event rather than an individual one.

Q3.SportsMedium

Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Maheshwari Chauhan and Raiza Dhillon won a bronze medal in which event?

  1. A.Women's archery team
  2. B.Women's trap team
  3. C.Women's skeet team
  4. D.Women's air rifle team
Show answer

Correct answer: C. Women's skeet team

Explanation

The correct answer is the women's skeet team event. The Prime Minister congratulated the three shooters on the bronze medal and said their focus, precision and teamwork had brought another proud moment for Indian sport. Skeet is a shotgun discipline in which clay targets are flung across the range and the team result is arrived at by combining the members' scores. Option A, women's archery team, is wrong because all three are shooters and no archery result was announced in this message. Option B, women's trap team, names a different shotgun event; trap and skeet are separate disciplines and the medal here was specifically in skeet. Option D, women's air rifle team, belongs to the rifle group of shooting events and not to the shotgun group, so it does not fit this result either.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who became India's first-ever Asian Games medallist in soft tennis?

Jay Meena, who won the bronze medal in the men's individual event. The Prime Minister called it a historic achievement for Indian soft tennis.

In which weight category did Mirabai Chanu win silver?

The women's 49 kg weightlifting event. The Prime Minister said her determination and consistency continue to inspire the nation.

Which shooters won the women's skeet team bronze?

Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Maheshwari Chauhan and Raiza Dhillon. The Prime Minister praised their focus, precision and teamwork.

Sources