Bahrain Sets Sights on Gold with Record-Breaking Delegation at 2025 Asian Youth Games

Bahrain Aims for Gold with Record-Breaking Delegation at 2025 Asian Youth Games

Bahrain is preparing to make history as it sends its largest-ever delegation to a continental age-group sporting event the third Asian Youth Games, set to kick off next week under the royal patronage of His Majesty King Hamad. The Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) announced that a total of 356 individuals will represent the Kingdom, including 204 athletes 150 boys and 54 girls  supported by 130 coaches and administrative staff, and 22 BOC officials.

This year’s edition of the Asian Youth Games is a major milestone for the Kingdom, not only because it’s being hosted on home soil, but also due to its scale. The event will bring together over 4,300 athletes from 45 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to compete across 26 sports, showcasing the best of Asia’s rising talents. Bahrain’s delegation will be a prominent force, with athletes participating in nearly every discipline.

Among the Bahraini teams, the futsal squads (boys and girls) boast the largest contingent at 38 members, followed closely by indoor volleyball with 36 participants, boys’ equestrian endurance with 27, swimming with 24, and boys’ handball with 23. The athletes will be vying for a share of the nearly 2,000 medals available.

In final preparations, Bahrain’s Chef de Mission Ahmed Abdulghaffar and Deputy Chef de Mission Abbas Bu Hassan attended official registration meetings to ensure a smooth experience for the athletes. Teams are expected to move into their residences in the coming days, timed with the schedules of their respective sports.

Excitement is already building, with delegations from Iran, the Maldives, Jordan, Thailand, and Indonesia arriving early. Others, including China (293 athletes), the UAE (152), Sri Lanka (100), Mongolia (135), and Jordan (120), have also confirmed their participation, adding to the anticipation for this high-stakes continental youth showcase.

The opening ceremony will take place on Wednesday, October 23 at Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB), marking the first time the event’s inauguration will be held indoors, diverging from previous editions in Singapore (2009) and China (2013).

While the official festivities begin next week, some competitions start early. Boys’ handball, volleyball, kabaddi, pencak silat, and kurash will begin as early as Sunday and Monday, hosted at venues such as Isa Sports City, Bahrain Handball Federation Arena, and EWB. After the grand opening, all remaining sports will launch, leading up to the closing ceremony on October 31.

From equestrian and athletics to E-sports, camel racing, and Muay Thai, the 2025 Asian Youth Games promises to be the most diverse yet. Bahrain’s massive participation signals not only national pride but also the Kingdom’s growing commitment to empowering youth through sport.