Taekwondo, Golf, and Cycling dominate headlines

On the Taekwondo mats, the intensity was immediate. Thailand’s Panuwat Kasemsin was too strong for Jordan’s Abdallah Shahin in the Boys’ -48kg final, winning 2–0 in a performance that left little doubt about his quality. Kazakhstan’s Aiym Serikbayeva mirrored that authority in the Girls’ -44kg, while Korea’s Eom Simok and China’s Zhang Qing claimed the Boys’ +73kg and Girls’ +63kg crowns. Shahin’s journey to the final brought Bahrain into the spotlight, with the local fans loud in support, proving that the host nation can compete even when up against Asia’s best.

While the mats cleared, the NBH Loop took the stage to host Asia’s brightest cyclists. Kazakhstan claimed gold in the Mixed Relay Team Time Trial, finishing in 45:19.38, with Chinese Taipei and China chasing closely behind. Bahrain’s riders held their own, navigating corners and gaining valuable experience that will serve them well in future races.

Umm Alhassam then brought more energy as 3x3 Basketball brought another round of excitement. Iran and Sri Lanka dominated Boys’ Pool D, while Thailand and India ran unbeaten campaigns in the Girls’ division. Bahrain’s boys turned heads with a 21–5 win over Kyrgyzstan followed by a 21–15 win against Indonesia, showing glimpses of composure and tactical maturity. On courts like these, a single fast break can change momentum, and Bahrain’s young team seized those moments with confidence.

The Beach Volleyball courts at Sama Bay were no less dramatic. Kazakhstan, China, Iran, and Thailand emerged as early leaders, but it was Bahrain who captured the crowd’s attention. After early setbacks, Karrar Yaqoob and Hussain Warqaa led the boys to a three-set win over the Maldives, while the girls fought well despite close defeats. Exhibition World Hall 9 rang with punches as India, China, and Kazakhstan stamped their authority in the preliminaries. Bahrain’s boxers also advanced in key bouts, notably in the boys’ 65kg and 70kg categories.

Meanwhile, the Royal Golf Club brought some of the continent’s best youth golfers to grace Bahrain’s greens. Vietnam’s Nguyen Tuan Anh led the Boys’ Individual standings with a 67 (-5), while China’s Ren Yijia impressed spectators with a stunning 61 (-11) to top the Girls’ field. Team standings reflected similar dominance: Vietnam’s boys and China’s girls emerged as leaders, both showing that consistency under pressure often separates good golfers from great ones.

At Exhibition World Hall 1, Bahrain’s fighters made their mark in Traditional and Modern MMA. Eldar Eldarov, Abdulakim Babaev, Sultanakhmed Sultanakhmedov, and Ibragim Khalidov all advanced, while athletes from India, Iran, and Kazakhstan delivered decisive wins. The combination of strength and strategy captivated the audience, showing that youth MMA in Asia is entering an era of impressive technical sophistication.

At Isa Sports City, Thailand, Iran, and Chinese Taipei secured straight-set victories in boys’ and girls’ classification matches. Bahrain’s teams gained critical experience, holding their own and showing that they can compete against seasoned opponents.

Elsewhere, China, Iran, and Thailand continued their dominance in U17 futsal at Khalifa Sports City. Bahrain’s girls suffered heavy losses, but the boys showed sparks of promise, competing hard against stronger teams.

Umm Alhassam Hall A then closed the day with handball contests. Thailand and China impressed in the girls’ games, while Iran flexed its strength in boys’ matches. Close finishes and dominant wins alike underscored the intensity and competitiveness of youth handball, reminding fans why it remains one of the region’s most loved sports.

As day six drew to a close, Bahrain had proved that it could not only host the continent’s best young athletes but compete alongside them. Meanwhile, Thailand, China, Iran, and Kazakhstan continued to dominate multiple disciplines, setting the stage for the final stretch of the Games, where emerging stars and dramatic finishes promise to keep fans glued to arenas across the kingdom.