Jay Meena Reaches Soft Tennis Quarters; Mandhana, Deepti Shine in Cricket

India’s campaign at the Asian Games on Tuesday carried a sharp edge of authority, on court and on the field.

Soft Tennis

In soft tennis, Jay Meena booked his place in the quarterfinals with a ruthless display, dismantling Pakistan’s Arain Hussain 4-0 in Group D. There was no easing into the contest, no feeling-out phase — just clean, decisive shot-making that shut the door on his opponent almost as soon as it opened.

The win propels Jay into a high-stakes quarterfinal on Wednesday, where he will face the Philippines’ Sherwin Nuguit. Another step up in quality, another test of nerve. For India, it is a clear sign that their presence in soft tennis is no longer peripheral; they are here to contend.

Cricket

While Jay was cruising through his draw, India’s women cricketers were imposing themselves with equal conviction.

Smriti Mandhana walked out against Sri Lanka and set the tone with a commanding 79, the kind of innings that bends a game to a batter’s will. Timing, placement, control — Sri Lanka’s bowlers never quite found a way to drag her out of rhythm as India surged to 216/3, a total that felt imposing long before the innings closed.

The batters had done their part. The bowlers then turned the contest into a procession.

Deepti Sharma led a relentless attack that never loosened its grip. Her figures told one story — an economy rate of 1.50 — but the pressure she created told another, more suffocating one. Sri Lanka’s chase never ignited. Wickets fell, dot balls piled up, and any hope of resistance faded as they were bundled out for just 69.

A 147-run victory is not a contest; it is a statement.

Between Jay Meena’s smooth passage into the soft tennis quarterfinals and the women’s cricket team’s ruthless dismantling of Sri Lanka, India’s athletes spent the day not just winning, but dictating terms. The question now is simple: how far can this wave of control and confidence carry them as the Games tighten and the stakes rise?