India’s First Asian Games Tennis Medallists – Shiv Prakash Misra & Vinay Dhawan

When Indian tennis fans think of the Asian Games, names like Leander Paes, Sania Mirza, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna often come to mind.

But decades before India became a regular presence on the Asian Games tennis podium, Shiv Prakash Misra and his doubles partner Vinay Dhawan achieved a historic first.

At the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok, the pair won the bronze medal in men’s doubles, becoming the first Indians to win a tennis medal at the Asian Games.

Breaking New Ground in Bangkok

The 1966 Asian Games were held in Bangkok, Thailand, from December 9 to 20. Tennis had only recently been introduced to the Asian Games programme, and countries such as Japan and the Philippines were among the leading forces in the sport across the continent.

India was still searching for its first breakthrough.

That moment arrived through Misra and Dhawan. Competing in the men’s doubles event, the Indian pair fought their way to a bronze medal, ensuring that India featured on the Asian Games tennis medal table for the very first time.

Today, it is remembered as one of the landmark achievements in the history of Indian tennis.

More Than an Asian Games Medallist

While the 1966 bronze remains a defining moment of his career, Shiv Prakash Misra’s contributions to Indian tennis extended far beyond Bangkok.

One of India’s leading players during the 1960s, he represented the country in the Davis Cup and competed at Wimbledon. Misra often recalled qualifying for Wimbledon in 1964 and receiving a racquet from the legendary Fred Perry himself. He arrived at the All England Club wearing Bata sports shoes and a hand-knitted sweater made by his mother—an enduring reminder of a very different era in Indian sport.

His achievements and contribution to tennis were recognised decades later when he received the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports in 2015.

Remembering the Firsts

Although comparatively little information is available today about Vinay Dhawan’s playing career, his place in Indian tennis history is secure. Alongside Misra, he formed the partnership that delivered India’s first Asian Games tennis medal.

The bronze medal won by Shiv Prakash Misra and Vinay Dhawan in Bangkok may not be as widely remembered as India’s later Asian Games successes, but it remains one of the most significant milestones in Indian tennis history. Long before India’s tennis stars began collecting medals on a regular basis, Misra and Dhawan became the first Indians to stand on the Asian Games tennis podium and etch their names into the record books.

With the next Asian Games set to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026, Indian tennis will once again chase continental glory. But before the next chapter is written, it is worth remembering where the story began—with Shiv Prakash Misra and Vinay Dhawan, India’s first Asian Games tennis medallists in Bangkok in 1966.