New Delhi: India achieved a golden double in kabaddi at the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, triumphing over Iran in both the boys’ and girls’ finals. The twin victories lifted India to fifth place in the overall standings with a total of 10 medals, including 2 gold, 3 silver, and 5 bronze.
China topped the medal table, followed by Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Iran. But it was India’s kabaddi dominance that stole the spotlight at Isa Sports City.
The Indian girls’ team produced a stunning display of power and precision, demolishing Iran 75–21 in the gold medal match. Leading 33–12 at halftime, they continued their relentless attack in the second half to seal a massive win. Their campaign had been equally impressive earlier, with dominant victories over Bangladesh, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Iran in the group stage.
The boys’ final offered far more drama. India led 21–16 at the break but faced a strong Iranian comeback in the closing minutes. Holding their nerve under pressure, the Indian team edged out their opponents 35–32 to secure the gold and complete the kabaddi sweep.
Beyond kabaddi, Indian athletes made their mark across other disciplines. On the track, Ranjana Yadav won silver in the girls’ 5000m walk with a time of 23:25.88, while Ambure Shourya earned another silver in the 100m hurdles, clocking 13.53 seconds. In field events, Jasmine Kaur captured bronze in the shot put with a best throw of 14.86 metres.
India also shone in martial arts, with Debasish Das and the duo of Yashwini Singh and Shivanshu Patel claiming bronze medals in taekwondo poomsae events. In kurash, Kanishka Bidhuri took silver in the girls’ 52kg category, while Khushi and Arvind added two more bronzes to the tally.
The twin kabaddi triumphs underscored India’s growing stature in youth sports, marking a proud moment for the country at the continental level.
