As Bahrain readies to host over 2,000 athletes from 45 nations for the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 (AYG) from October 22 to 31, 2025, India’s young contingent is preparing to make a defining statement.
The Manama Games are more than just another multi-sport event they are the qualifier for the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympics, and perhaps the biggest showcase yet of Asia’s next generation of talent. For India, this edition represents both continuity and experimentation dominance in traditional strengths like Boxing and Kabaddi, and ambitious forays into Esports and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), two disciplines making their historic debut as medal events.
The Indian contingent heading to Manama reflects a dual philosophy secure podiums in established sports while testing the nation’s growing depth in newly recognized ones. The country’s preparation has been centralized, data-driven, and athlete-focused, from Patiala’s high-performance boxing camp to digital bootcamps for esports qualifiers.
Esports: Digital Frontiers and India’s First Step
For the first time in the Games’ history, Esports will feature as an official medal sport, with competitions in eFootball, Street Fighter 6 (SF6), and Rocket League. The move signals a historic shift competitive gaming now standing shoulder to shoulder with Olympic disciplines.
India’s eFootball Heroes: Tanav Raj and Keshav Uppal
At the National Esports Championships (NESC) 2025, Tanav Raj emerged champion in eFootball, followed closely by Keshav Uppal, with Suhan finishing third. Both Raj and Uppal will now represent India in Bahrain. Their journey underscores India’s rapidly growing esports ecosystem one built on structured competition, skill discipline, and now, national representation.
SF6 Squad: Mandalapu Sreesanth and Ansil Nalakath Abbas
The Street Fighter 6 (SF6) squad features two of India’s most technically adept players Mandalapu Sreesanth and Ansil Nalakath Abbas both of whom earned selection through ESFI’s national trials. Their qualification marks India’s entry into the Asian fighting game circuit for the first time.
Rocket League Miss and Future Lessons
India, however, will not field a Rocket League team a hardware compliance issue derailed the nomination process. Most domestic players competed on PC platforms, whereas AYG mandates PlayStation 5 setups to ensure parity. The oversight highlights the urgent need for hardware standardization and console-based training environments for future international esports qualifiers.
Female Representation: Pipeline Under Construction
While two female gamers competed in the eFootball and SF6 qualifiers, ESFI concluded that they were not yet ready for international nomination. Federation Director Lokesh Suji affirmed ESFI’s long-term commitment to bridging this gap:
“Tanav and Keshav have shown what’s possible. The next step is to build a structured female esports program so that we have full gender representation by the next cycle.”
Boxing: India’s Traditional Powerhouse Aiming High
If esports reflects India’s future, boxing remains its core. The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has assembled a 23-member contingent, including 14 boxers, 6 coaches, 2 physiotherapists, and 1 doctor, for AYG 2025. The boxers are currently in a month-long training camp at NS NIS Patiala (Sept 23–Oct 20), receiving world-class conditioning, nutrition, and technical supervision. Head coaches Vinod Kumar (Boys U-17) and Jitender Raj Singh (Girls U-17) are leading the effort, with a singular focus convert potential into podiums.
India’s AYG 2025 Boxing Squad
Boys Team
- Dhruv Kharb
- Udham Singh Raghav
- Deepak Kumar
- Vikas Sharma
- Karanjeet Singh
- Armaan Malik
- Nitin Raj
Girls Team
- Khushi Chand
- Ahaana Sharma
- Chandrika Bhoreshi Pujari
- Roshni Kumari
- Neha Rani
- Tania Devi
- Aarti Kumari
Gold Standards and Rising Prospects
Leading the contingent is Dhruv Kharb, the 44–46kg gold medallist from the U-17 Nationals, who also clinched a dominant 5–0 win at the Belt and Road Youth Boxing Gala in China. His teammate Udham Singh Raghav impressed with a knockout victory in the same event, reinforcing India’s continental pedigree. On the women’s side, Khushi Chand gold medallist at the 2024 Asian School Championships and Ahaana Sharma, known for her tactical precision, will spearhead the medal charge.
With India finishing second overall at the 2025 Asian U-17 Championships (43 medals), expectations are high for multiple podium finishes.
Kabaddi: Defending a Continental Crown
No Indian delegation is complete without Kabaddi, and at AYG 2025, India’s youth teams will look to maintain their near-perfect continental record. The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) has announced a 26-member contingent (13 boys, 13 girls) featuring athletes from India’s strongest kabaddi states, complemented by some of the country’s most decorated coaches.
Boys’ Kabaddi Squad – Asian Youth Games 2025
Abinesh Mohandoss – Tamil Nadu, Aditya – Goa, Akash – Haryana, Akhil – Goa, Anuj Chaudhary – Vidarbha, Aryan – Haryana, Harish Gadde – Andhra Pradesh, Harsh – Haryana, Ishant – Goa, Keshav – Goa, Prasad Dighole – Maharashtra, Rahul Singh – Uttarakhand, Sachin Chaudhary – Rajasthan, Shubham – SAI
Coaching Staff:
•Head Coach (Boys):Srinivas Reddy
•Assistant Coach (Boys):Deepak Hooda
Girls’ Kabaddi Squad – Asian Youth Games 2025
Akshita Devanda – Rajasthan, Arpita – Haryana, Bhumika – Uttarakhand, Diksha – SAI, Karthika Ramesh – Tamil Nadu, Khushi – Delhi, Komal – Krishna, Lakshita Gurjar – Rajasthan, Nikita – Haryana, Nikita Devanda – Rajasthan, Preeti Thakur – Himachal Pradesh, Priyanka Padhan – Odisha, Serena Mhaskar – Maharashtra
Coaching Staff:
•Head Coach (Girls):Mamtha Poojari
•Assistant Coach (Girls):Jayashree Swain
Elite Leadership and Rivalry Focus
The girls’ team will be mentored by Mamtha Poojari, the Arjuna Award-winning captain who led India to Asian Games (2010) and World Cup gold medals. Her international experience especially in close-margin finals against Iran will be crucial.
India remains the regional powerhouse, but Iran’s youth teams have been closing the gap. India defeated Iran 41–33 in the 2023 Junior World Cup Final a sign that Bahrain could produce another tight contest. The boys’ squad, under Srinivas Reddy, also features talents groomed in the Pro Kabaddi League feeder programs, ensuring tactical maturity well beyond their years.
Mixed Martial Arts: Stepping into a New Arena
For the first time, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) will feature as a medal event at the Asian Youth Games, with India sending a six-member contingent ready to test their mettle under the Asian MMA Association’s (AMMA) Youth A safety ruleset.
India’s MMA Squad – AYG 2025
- Shaurya Gandhi
- Veer Bhadu
- Shriya Satam
- Mohammed Damees Almeer
- Yash Muthal
- Ishan Vyas
The AMMA format, tailored for ages 16–17, restricts knee strikes, joint locks, and high-impact ground striking prioritizing grappling, control, and technical defense. The team, led by national coach support staff under the All India Mixed Martial Arts Federation, is in its developmental phase. Gandhi, currently a white belt in Jiu-Jitsu, symbolizes the sport’s grassroots stage in India.
India’s Broader Strategy and Future Outlook
The 2025 AYG campaign is as much a talent assessment mission as a medal pursuit. India’s sports federations have recognized that global competitiveness now demands dual-speed growth investing in medal-rich sports while accelerating development in new-age disciplines.
Priority Action Points Post-AYG
- Esports: Standardize future qualifiers to AYG-compliant (PS5) setups; establish female esports academies for gender parity.
- Boxing: Sustain centralized youth camps and international sparring programs to enhance adaptability.
- Kabaddi: Create simulation modules against Iran-style defenses for youth squads.
- MMA: Launch a national youth curriculum around AMMA rules, integrating wrestling and BJJ foundations.
From the Patiala training rings to online arenas, India’s youth contingent is united by a shared mission to perform, to learn, and to announce the arrival of the next generation of Indian athletes. When Tanav Raj walks into the esports zone, when Khushi Chand throws her first punch, when Lakshita Gurjar dives into a raid, or when Shaurya Gandhi steps into the cage they’ll represent not only their disciplines but a broader Indian ambition: to expand the country’s sporting identity across every frontier, physical or digital.
India’s future isn’t waiting it’s training, competing, and now, gaming its way into history.
