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

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.