Afghan athletes achieved remarkable success at the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, winning six medals despite limited resources and facilities.
Bahrain | By Sara Amiri
Afghanistan’s young athletes delivered an inspiring performance at the third edition of the Asian Youth Games, held in Manama, Bahrain. The Afghan delegation, consisting of 57 participants across eight sporting disciplines, returned home with a total of six medals, one gold, two silver, and three bronze.
The achievements are particularly significant given the athletes’ financial and technical challenges. The national futsal team secured the country’s only gold medal, while judo brought home a silver. Afghan martial artists earned one silver and one bronze, and the country’s kurash competitors added two more bronze medals to the tally.
A spokesperson for the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee praised the athletes’ efforts, saying, “This is the result of tireless work by our youth. They carried the message of peace, hope, and resilience for Afghanistan.”
The Asian Youth Games are held every four years, and this year’s edition featured over 4,000 athletes from 45 countries competing in 24 sports. China topped the overall medal table with 147 medals, including 63 golds, while Afghanistan’s six medals placed it 24th overall, ahead of several nations such as Qatar, Cambodia, Pakistan, Lebanon, Bangladesh, and Yemen.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s national volleyball team reached the final of the Central Asia Championship, where they finished as runners-up after a narrow 3–2 defeat to Turkmenistan.