Bahrain Unveils Record Squad for Third Asian Youth Games

TDT | Manama

Email: hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Six days remain before the Kingdom hosts rising stars

Bahrain is set to field its largest delegation yet at the third Asian Youth Games, with just six days remaining before the event officially begins. The Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) confirmed yesterday that a total of 356 individuals will represent the Kingdom, including 204 athletes.

Under the royal patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Kingdom’s contingent is aiming for podium finishes across multiple sports while competing on home soil.

The athlete breakdown features 150 boys and 54 girls, with futsal teams leading in squad size at 38 members each. Indoor volleyball comes next with 36 athletes, while equestrian endurance fields 27 competitors. Swimming teams from both genders feature 24 athletes, and boys’ handball includes 23 participants.

Bahrain’s athletes will be vying for a share of nearly 2,000 medals across the 26 sports featured at this year’s Games, which include athletics, 3x3 basketball, badminton, volleyball (indoor and beach), road cycling, equestrian, futsal, golf, handball, Muay, jiu-jitsu, judo, kabaddi, mixed martial arts, table tennis, E-sports, taekwondo, wrestling, boxing, triathlon, weightlifting, teqball, swimming, camel racing, pencak silat, and kurash.

This week, the first batch of officials from international delegations arrived, including representatives from Iran, the Maldives, Jordan, Thailand, and Indonesia. Other participating nations have now confirmed their delegation sizes ahead of travel: China will send 293 athletes, the UAE 152 athletes, Mongolia 135 athletes, Jordan 120 athletes, and Sri Lanka 100 athletes.

The official opening ceremony will take place at Exhibition World Bahrain on Wednesday, and it will be the first time the AYG inauguration will be held indoors rather than outdoors. Several competitions, including boys’ handball, volleyball, kabaddi, pencak silat, and kurash, will begin before the ceremony. Girls’ handball, teqball, and beach volleyball are scheduled to follow. All remaining sports will commence after the opening event, leading up to the closing ceremony on October 31.