India, Sept. 23 -- Jay Meena created history by securing India's first-ever soft tennis medal at the Asian Games, settling for bronze after losing to Japan's Takuya Kurosaka in the men's singles semifinals here on Wednesday.

Playing in his third Asian Games, the 26-year-old from Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, fought back strongly after falling three games behind but could not sustain the momentum, going down 2-4 (3-5, 1-4, 1-4, 4-1, 6-4, 1-4) in the 45-minute contest.

Kurosaka established early control, winning the opening two games 5-3 and 4-1 before taking the third 4-1 to leave Meena with little room for error.

With a medal assured but a place in the final at stake, Meena mounted a spirited fightback.

He won the fourth game 4-1 and then ed...