India’s young wrestlers started the campaign at the Asian Youth Games 2025 in Manama, Bahrain, with Yashita producing a commanding performance to storm into the final of the girls’ 61kg category, ensuring at least a silver medal for India.
Her dominance on the mat stood out as she registered emphatic wins in the earlier rounds, underlining India’s rising depth in women’s wrestling at the youth level.
Yashita opened her campaign with a clinical 4–1 win over Jumanazarov (Uzbekistan) in the quarterfinals. Displaying excellent upper-body control and composure, she took early command of the bout and never allowed her opponent to find rhythm.
She followed it up with an even more ruthless display in the semifinal, defeating Chynybaeva (Kyrgyzstan) by a 6–0 scoreline, a technical superiority win that highlighted her aggressive intent and superior mat awareness.
Her victory set up a much-anticipated final against Japan’s Awano, scheduled for October 28 at 20:10 IST, where she will aim to become India’s first wrestling gold medallist of this edition. The bout will test her against Japan’s famed defensive technique and conditioning, but Yashita’s form so far marked by strength, speed, and tactical sharpness gives her every chance to make history.
Strong Performances Across the Board
While Yashita grabbed the spotlight, several other Indian wrestlers also made impressive starts across weight categories in both boys’ and girls’ divisions.
In the girls’ competition, six Indians took to the mat on the opening day.
Rachana (43kg) will face Bakkozha (Kazakhstan) in her opening bout on October 29 (13:30 IST), a contest that will test her endurance against one of Central Asia’s most promising lightweight wrestlers.
Komal Verma (49kg), another strong contender, is set to meet Abdumusaeva (Uzbekistan) in the Round of 16 (13:58 IST, October 29). Komal, known for her quick leg attacks and counter-reversals, will aim to replicate the sharp form that saw her win gold at the Asian U17 Championships earlier this year.
Moni (57kg) has drawn Ranaweera (Sri Lanka) in her Round of 16 match (13:13 IST). With her robust defense and counter-attack proficiency, Moni will look to begin her campaign on a winning note and push deep into the medal rounds.
In the heavier divisions, Ashvini Vishnoi (69kg) begins directly in the quarterfinals, where she faces a challenging draw against Batmunkh (Mongolia) at 14:10 IST. Ashvini, a multiple-time national medallist, will depend on her upper-body power and superior stance work to overcome Mongolia’s grappling-heavy style.
Boys’ Category: Steady Start, Tough Battles Ahead
On the boys’ side, five Indian wrestlers featured in the draw, with mixed results so far.
Shivam (48kg) will open his campaign against Rakhatov (Kazakhstan) at 12:48 IST on October 29. His focus will be on maintaining positional discipline against a Kazakh grappler known for fast transitions.
Jaiveer Singh (55kg) faces Gedara (Sri Lanka) in the Round of 16 (12:30 IST) and will look to capitalize on his superior technique and quick single-leg finishes to progress.
Gourav Punia (65kg), another medal hopeful, faces Wu (China) in the same round (12:42 IST). Gourav’s strength lies in his counter-tackling and stamina, and he’ll need both in abundance against China’s relentless pace.
In the 71kg category, Kapil Dahiya unfortunately bowed out early, suffering a 0–10 loss to Jumanazarov (Uzbekistan). Despite showing early aggression, Kapil struggled against Jumanazarov’s grip strength and tactical switches, conceding a technical superiority defeat.
Saurabh Yadav (80kg), India’s representative in the middle-heavy category, will be in action in the quarterfinals on October 29 (13:41 IST). Known for his powerful upper-body control and leg sweeps, Saurabh will aim to start strong and join Yashita in the medal rounds.
Yashita’s Journey: A Glimpse into India’s Future
Yashita’s journey to the final is more than an individual success it reflects the evolution of India’s women’s wrestling ecosystem. Trained under the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence in Lucknow, she’s part of a new generation that has grown up idolizing champions like Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, but with greater exposure to international wrestling circuits.
Her adaptability on the mat combining Indian-style wrist control with international-level double-leg entries l has been one of her biggest assets. Against Kyrgyzstan in the semifinal, she executed a near-flawless inside trip followed by a high-crotch lift, sealing the match without conceding a point.
Her semifinal victory also highlighted another crucial strength her ability to maintain composure under time pressure. Even with a slender lead at the halfway mark, Yashita showed maturity beyond her age, controlling tempo and shutting down Kyrgyz attacks before launching decisive counterstrikes.
With India having previously produced champions like Antim Panghal and Priya Malik at the U17 level, Yashita’s emergence adds another name to the growing list of Indian women who are making waves on the global mat.
India’s Wrestling at the Asian Youth Games: Building for the Future
The Asian Youth Games provide a vital platform for India’s next generation of wrestlers to test themselves against continental powerhouses. Wrestling nations like Japan, Kazakhstan, China, and Iran continue to set the benchmark, but India’s performance over the past few years shows consistent progress both in terms of medal count and competitive parity.
The 2025 edition has already shown promising signs. With one finalist confirmed and several wrestlers poised for crucial bouts, India has the potential to finish among the top nations in wrestling. More importantly, the exposure at this level gives athletes the experience needed to transition to U20 and senior international events.
Schedule for India on October 29 (IST)
Boys:
- Shivam (48kg) vs Rakhatov (KAZ) – 12:48 IST
- Jaiveer Singh (55kg) vs Gedara (SRI) – 12:30 IST
- Gourav Punia (65kg) vs Wu (CHN) – 12:42 IST
- Saurabh Yadav (80kg) – Quarterfinal, 13:41 IST
Girls:
- Rachana (43kg) vs Bakkozha (KAZ) – 13:30 IST
- Komal Verma (49kg) vs Abdumusaeva (UZB) – 13:58 IST
- Moni (57kg) vs Ranaweera (SRI) – 13:13 IST
- Ashvini Vishnoi (69kg) vs Batmunkh (MGL) – 14:10 IST
As the Indian contingent heads into the decisive day, all eyes will be on Yashita’s final against Japan’s Awano. A victory would not only bring home India’s first gold in wrestling at these Games but also reaffirm the promise of the country’s youth setup one that’s steadily carving its identity among Asia’s best.
