Jay Meena Advances to Soft Tennis Quarterfinals at Asian Games
India’s campaign at the Asian Games found a fresh spark on Tuesday as Jay Meena powered into the quarterfinals of the soft tennis event, rounding off a day that already carried the stamp of dominance from India’s women cricketers.
On the soft courts, Meena barely gave his opponent a foothold. Up against Pakistan’s Arain Hussain in Group D, the Indian barely blinked, sealing a 4-0 win that felt as ruthless as the scoreline suggests. There were no twists, no late nerves, just clean, controlled shot-making and a clear gap in composure.
The reward is a quarterfinal showdown on Wednesday with the Philippines’ Sherwin Nuguit, a step up in pressure and stakes as the tournament edges toward its decisive stages. For Meena, it is exactly the kind of stage he has been playing toward: a straight-knockout test with momentum on his side and a place in the medal conversation within reach.
While Meena was cruising through his tie, India’s women’s cricket team had already set the tone for the day with a performance that bordered on ruthless.
Smriti Mandhana walked out and took charge from the first over, her 79 the anchor and accelerant of an innings that never really loosened its grip on Sri Lanka. India stacked up 216/3, a total that felt imposing long before the innings closed. The scoreboard pressure was obvious; Sri Lanka looked tight, tentative, and increasingly short of answers.
Then the bowlers arrived and shut the door.
Deepti Sharma led a relentless attack, operating with an economy rate of 1.50 that strangled any faint hopes of a chase. Every over seemed to tighten the noose. Wickets fell, dot balls piled up, and the target drifted out of reach almost as soon as the innings began. Sri Lanka folded for just 69, handing India a thumping 147-run victory that underlined the gulf between the sides.
It was the kind of win that does more than just add another result to the record; it sends a message about standards, intent, and where this Indian side see themselves on the continental stage.
With Meena stepping into the quarterfinals and the women’s cricket team delivering statement wins, India’s athletes are not just surviving the pressure of the Asian Games. They are shaping it.
