Manama: Bahrain continued its strong performance at the 3rd Asian Youth Games, held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, increasing its total medal count to 12 after winning two gold medals in weightlifting and a bronze medal in handball.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Bahraini weightlifter John Lopez delivered an outstanding performance in the 94kg category, winning two gold medals after lifting 160kg in the snatch and 186kg in the clean and jerk. His success added to Bahrain’s growing record of achievements in weightlifting, reflecting the sport’s steady progress and the continued support for national athletes.
Bahrain’s youth handball team also contributed to the medal tally by winning bronze following a 32-28 win over China in the third-place match. The team displayed strong tactical discipline and teamwork throughout the game, maintaining control from start to finish. The result mirrored Bahrain’s bronze finish in the previous edition of the Games, emphasising the national team’s consistent presence on the Asian stage.
In other events, Bahrain’s esports team finished fourth in the Rocket League 3×3 competition after a close match against Oman in the bronze medal game, following earlier victories over Indonesia. In judo, athlete Ali Abdulrahman exited the 90kg event after a competitive bout against Thailand’s Kanisorn.
In beach wrestling, Ali Mahmood won his opening match before being eliminated in later rounds, while Abdulla Jamal and Aseel Khalid concluded their participation in the 70kg and 60kg categories. In swimming, Miron Boldovskii finished fifth in the 50m breaststroke final with a time of 29.12 seconds, while other Bahraini swimmers did not advance beyond the preliminary heats.
Following the handball team’s bronze win, player Abathar Yateem expressed pride in the achievement, describing it as the result of dedication and teamwork. His teammate Ahmed Mahmood said that although the team had aimed for gold, they were satisfied with their performance and grateful for the experience gained.
Ali Isa, President of Bahrain Handball Federation, commended the players for their determination and strong performances, noting that the achievement reflects the steady development of Bahraini handball and the collective efforts of all those working to advance the sport.