Team Tajikistan is having its best-ever performance at the 3rd Asian Youth Games, currently underway in Bahrain, having already claimed 19 medals — including 2 gold, 2 silver, and 15 bronze.
On October 29, four more young athletes added to Tajikistan’s growing medal count, according to the official tournament website.
In freestyle wrestling, Alirizo Bahromov earned a bronze medal in the 80 kg category. The nation also saw strong results in judo, where Yusuf Zamonov reached the final in the 50 kg division, taking home silver after a closely contested match. Two more judokas, Zuhal Jumayeva (52 kg) and Yusuf Iskandarzoda (66 kg), earned bronze.
These results bring Tajikistan’s total to 19 medals, a record for the country at the Asian Youth Games. The team currently ranks 18th in the overall medal table.
MMA debut delivers golden moments
Tajikistan’s standout success came in amateur MMA, which was included in the Games’ program for the first time. Fazliddin Khalilov (55 kg) and Umardzhon Umed (70 kg) made history by winning gold medals.
Tajik fighters also secured seven MMA bronze medals, awarded to Mehrona Qalandarbekova (55 kg), Marhabo Boboyeva (60 kg), Umar Sharifov (50 kg), Muhammad Saidzoda (60 kg), Osim Begmurodzoda (60 kg), Abubakr Bahromov (75 kg), and Muso Ibrohimzoda (80 kg).
Additional podium finishes across disciplines
In taekwondo, Jonibek Nigmatov earned silver in the over 73 kg division after losing the final to South Korea’s Simok Iom. Another taekwondo athlete, Abdujafari Bahodur, secured bronze in the 55 kg category.
Tajikistan’s first medal of the Games came from Abubakr Turaev, who won bronze in kurash (65 kg). In boxing, the country earned three bronze medals, thanks to Furugh Sarkhatzoda (60 kg), Damir Nazarov (46 kg), and Abubakr Azizov (60 kg).
Tajikistan has sent 65 athletes to Bahrain, competing in 12 sports, including boxing, judo, athletics, swimming, muay thai, kurash, taekwondo, MMA, jiu-jitsu, badminton, and esports.
Bahrain steps in as surprise host
Bahrain was not the original host for the 2025 Asian Youth Games — the event was initially planned for Tashkent, but the Olympic Council of Asia moved it in late 2024 due to organizational issues. The main venues are Isa Sports City and Exhibition World Bahrain.
This edition features around 4,000 athletes from 45 countries, competing across 26 sports, blending traditional Olympic disciplines with emerging ones like muay thai, teqball, esports, and amateur MMA.
Tajikistan’s progress through the years
Tajikistan has participated in the Asian Youth Games since their inception in 2009 in Singapore, where the nation did not win any medals. Only two athletes represented the country back then.
In 2013, at the second edition in Nanjing, China, Tajikistan earned its first medals: a silver by Zohir Sheraliyev (hammer throw) and a bronze by Farrukh Salim (judo, 81 kg).
The Asian Youth Games serve as a key preparatory platform for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which will be held in Dakar, Senegal. The current results provide insight into the potential of Tajikistan’s next generation of athletes and help shape future development strategies.
