India made a commanding start at the 3rd Asian Youth Games, combining dominance in its indigenous sport Kabaddi with a historic first medal in Kurash.
Teenager Khushi delivered India’s first podium finish of the Games with a bronze in the women’s 70kg category, while both Indian kabaddi teams launched their campaigns with emphatic victories.
It was a day that captured India’s sporting range, from traditional strength to emerging disciplines.
Khushi Makes History in Kurash
India’s first medal in Bahrain came courtesy of Khushi, who clinched a bronze medal 🥉 in the women’s 70kg Kurash event. The 17-year-old from India showed commendable skill and composure in a discipline making its debut appearance at the Asian Youth Games.
Khushi started from the semifinals in the draw, where she met Durdona Tursunova 🇺🇿 of Uzbekistan, one of the young kurashkas. Despite putting up a brave fight, Khushi went down 0–5, with Tursunova’s speed and grip control proving decisive. The Uzbek eventually went on to defeat Saniet Talaibekova 🇰🇬 of Kyrgyzstan in the final, confirming Khushi’s bronze finish.
The other bronze went to Mahsa Barzegar 🇮🇷 of Iran, rounding off a strong field featuring top Central Asian athletes.
Kurash, a traditional Uzbek jacket-wrestling martial art, rewards throws, balance, and timing rather than ground grappling. Its inclusion in the Games marks a key step in expanding Asia’s martial arts portfolio and Khushi’s podium finish ensured India was among the first nations to make an impact in the sport.
Her bronze not only opened India’s medal account but also reflected the growing depth of Indian athletes venturing into new disciplines.
Kabaddi: India Announce Arrival in Style
While Khushi made headlines in Kurash, India’s kabaddi teams lit up the mats with two sessions of complete dominance on the sport’s debut at the Asian Youth Games. In the boys’ event, India obliterated Bangladesh 83–19 in their opening match. It was a flawless display of control and athletic superiority India never fell below six players on the mat and inflicted an astonishing 14 All Outs on their opponents.
Every element of the game clicked the raiders executed sharp bonus plays and quick touches, while the defensive unit maintained near-perfect coordination. Bangladesh’s raiders were neutralized early, and India’s depth allowed constant rotation without loss of intensity. The girls’ team matched the performance with equal authority. They began their campaign by beating Bangladesh 46–18, a win built on relentless defence and precise raiding. Later in the evening, they dismantled Thailand 53–19, maintaining complete control throughout the contest.
Both teams’ communication, tactical awareness, and bench strength were evident as they converted leads into dominant wins. Kabaddi’s debut at the Youth Games couldn’t have asked for a better Indian start — symbolic of the nation’s deep-rooted mastery of the sport.
Pencak Silat: Tough Opening for India
In Pencak Silat, another Southeast Asian martial art making its appearance at Bahrain 2025, Indian athletes faced stiff opposition but fought with resilience. In the Men’s 51–55kg category, Sakshi Thakur bowed out in the quarterfinals after losing to Carpio 🇵🇭 of the Philippines 17–83. Meanwhile, in the Women’s 59–63kg event, Thoithoiba Leikhram, who received a bye in the first round, was defeated by Bikboev 🇰🇬 of Kyrgyzstan 15–29 in her quarterfinal bout.
Neither athlete advanced to the medal rounds, but their participation was significant as India builds experience in Pencak Silat a fast, striking-based martial art combining kicks, punches, and sweeps. Competing against established silat nations like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Kyrgyzstan offered crucial exposure for India’s young fighters.
India’s Day 1 in Bahrain showcased two sides of its sporting identity the unshakeable dominance of a traditional powerhouse in kabaddi, and the emergence of new medal hopes in martial arts like Kurash and Pencak Silat. Khushi’s bronze medal carried symbolic weight. It came in a sport that’s foreign to India but founded on discipline and agility traits shared with many indigenous Indian combat styles. Her success was an early signal of India’s expanding reach beyond familiar disciplines.
Kabaddi’s overwhelming victories, meanwhile, reinforced India’s supremacy in a sport it has nurtured from playgrounds to global podiums. The boys’ and girls’ teams demonstrated how the next generation has absorbed professional-level skill and awareness — a reflection of the sport’s growth at the grassroots and youth academy level.
What’s Next for India in Kabaddi (IST Schedule)
Boys’ Team
- Oct 20, 10:00 AM – vs Sri Lanka 🇱🇰
- Oct 21, 7:00 PM – vs Iran 🇮🇷
- Oct 22, 11:00 AM – vs Bahrain 🇧🇭
- Oct 23, 5:00 PM – Final (Rank 1 vs Rank 2)
Girls’ Team
- Oct 20, 11:15 AM – vs Sri Lanka 🇱🇰
- Oct 20, 6:45 PM – vs Iran 🇮🇷
- Oct 23, 4:00 PM – Final (Rank 1 vs Rank 2)
With both Indian kabaddi sides sitting comfortably at the top of their groups, all signs point toward a medal finish — and potentially, twin golds.
Day 1 Summary for India 🇮🇳
- Khushi – Bronze, Women’s 70kg Kurash
- Kabaddi Boys: 83–19 vs Bangladesh
- Kabaddi Girls: 46–18 vs Bangladesh
- Kabaddi Girls: 53–19 vs Thailand
- Pencak Silat:
- Sakshi Thakur (Men’s 51–55kg) – Lost to Carpio (PHI) 17–83
- Thoithoiba Leikhram (Women’s 59–63kg) – Lost to Bikboev (KGZ) 15–29
A medal in a new martial art, two dominant kabaddi wins, and invaluable exposure in Pencak Silat India’s first day in Bahrain was one of energy, promise, and momentum.
As the tricolour rose over the podium for Khushi’s bronze, and India’s kabaddi teams stamped authority on the mats, the message was clear: the future of Indian sport is both traditional and evolving and it’s here to stay.
