The 3rd edition of the Asian Youth Games (AYG) 2025, organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), was held in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, from 22 to 31 October 2025, marking Bahrain’s first time hosting an OCA event.
- The event served as the Asian qualification tournament for the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics Games (YoG) in Dakar, Senegal, scheduled from 31 October to 14 November 2026.
Exam Hints:
- Event: 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG) 2025
- Host City: Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
- When? 22 to 31 October 2025
- Participating Nations: 45
- Total Medals Awarded: 1,677 (505 Gold, 503 Silver, 669 Bronze)
- Top Medal Tally: China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Thailand, India
- Indian Contingent: 222 athletes (119 female, 103 male)
- India’s Medal Tally: 48 (13 Gold, 18 Silver, 17 Bronze)
- Chef de Mission: Yogeshwar Dutt (London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist)
- IOA Reward for each Medallists: Gold (Rs.5 lakh), Silver (Rs.3 lakh) Bronze (Rs.2 lakh) Fourth-place (Rs.50,000)
About Asian Youth Games (AYG):
Establishment: AYG was first held in 2009 as a continental multi-sport event for athletes aged between 14 and 17 years organized by the OCA.
Previous Editions: The 1st edition of the AYG was held in 2009 in Singapore, followed by the 2nd edition in 2013 in Nanjing, People’s Republic of China, while the planned editions in 2017 and 2021 were cancelled.
Objective: To promote youth participation in sports across Asia and serve as a qualification platform for the YOG.
Format: The Games are conducted every four years, featuring a mix of Olympic and regional sports.
Next Edition: The 4th Asian Youth Games will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in 2029.
About Asian Youth Games 2025:
Participating Nations: 45 National Olympic Committees (NOCs)
Sports Disciplines: 28 sports including 3×3 basketball, athletics, badminton, beach volleyball, beach wrestling, boxing, camel racing, cycling road, esports, futsal, golf, handball, jiu-jitsu, judo, kabaddi, kurash, mixed martial arts, muay, pencak silat, show jumping, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, teqball, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, and wrestling.
India’s Participation: India sent a delegation of 222 athletes, including 119 female and 103 male participants, competing across 21 sports disciplines.
Chef de Mission: London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt served as the Chef de Mission for the Indian contingent.
Total Medals at Stake: 1,677 (505 gold, 503 silver, 669 bronze)
Top of the Medal Tally: The People’s Republic of China topped the standings at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025, winning 63 gold, 49 silver, and 35 bronze medals, for a total of 147.
India’s Medal Tally: India finished the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 with a total of 48 medals, comprising 13 gold, 18 silver, and 17 bronze.
Largest Squad: Athletics featured the largest Indian representation, with a total of 31 athletes, followed by 28 in kabaddi, 16 in handball, 14 in boxing, and 10 each in taekwondo, wrestling, and weightlifting.
Overall Top 6 Medal Tally (Asian Youth Games 2025):
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | People’s Republic of China (CHN) | 63 | 49 | 35 | 147 |
| 2 | Uzbekistan (UZB) | 37 | 16 | 28 | 81 |
| 3 | Kazakhstan (KAZ) | 24 | 29 | 40 | 93 |
| 4 | Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) | 22 | 18 | 36 | 76 |
| 5 | Thailand (THA) | 15 | 15 | 18 | 48 |
| 6 | India (IND) | 13 | 18 | 17 | 48 |
India’s Notable Performances:
Dhinidhi Desinghu: Set a new national record in 400m freestyle Swimming with a time of 4 minutes 21.86 seconds.
Veer Bhadu: Won bronze in Men’s Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) 80kg category, India’s first-ever MMA medal at the Games.
Priteesmita Bhoi: Set a Youth World Record by lifting 92kg in Clean & Jerk with a total of 158kg.
India’s 13 Gold Medals at Asian Youth Games 2025:
| S.No | Athlete/Team | Event | Sport |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anjali | Girls’ 55kg | Beach Wrestling |
| 2 | Sani Fulmali | Boys’ 60kg | Beach Wrestling |
| 3 | Arjun Ruhil | Boys’ 90kg | Beach Wrestling |
| 4 | Khushi Chand | Girls’ 46kg | Boxing |
| 5 | Ahaana Sharma | Girls’ 50kg | Boxing |
| 6 | Chandrika Pujari | Girls’ 54kg | Boxing |
| 7 | Anshika | Girls’ +80kg | Boxing |
| 8 | Priteesmita Bhoi | Girls’ 44kg Clean & Jerk | Weightlifting |
| 9 | Moni | Girls’ Freestyle 57kg | Wrestling |
| 10 | Yashita | Girls’ Freestyle 61kg | Wrestling |
| 11 | Jaiveer Singh | Boys’ Freestyle 55kg | Wrestling |
| 12 | India | Girls’ Team | Kabaddi |
| 13 | India | Boys’ Team | Kabaddi |
IOA Announced Cash Rewards for Medal Winners of the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025:
In November 2025, The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced cash rewards for athletes and coaches in recognition of their outstanding performance at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 held in Manama, Bahrain
Cash Rewards for Medal Winners:
- Gold medallists: Rs.5 lakh each
- Silver medallists: Rs.3 lakh each
- Bronze medallists: Rs.2 lakh each
- Fourth-place finishers: Rs.50,000 each
Rewards for Coaches: Coaches of all medal-winning athletes will receive Rs.1 lakh each.
Rewards for Teams: Additionally, both the boys’ and girls’ kabaddi teams will be awarded Rs.10 lakh each for their exceptional performances.
About the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA):
OCA serves as the governing body for sports across Asia and currently comprises 45 member National Olympic Committees.
President – Randhir Singh (India)
Headquarters – Kuwait City, Kuwait
Established – 1982
