• Nagouj, champion of the challenge: Well-deserved bronze in beach wrestling

The Jordanian delegation concluded its participation on the penultimate day of the Asian Youth Games (Bahrain 2025), recording a new achievement added to the record of Jordanian sports, as national beach wrestling player Zaid Nagouj won the bronze medal in the 80 kg weight category

This achievement confirms the strong presence of young Jordanian athletes on the continental stage, ahead of the closing of the games tomorrow, Friday

The beach wrestling competitions, held on Thursday, witnessed remarkable performance from Zaid Nagouj, who began his journey with strength and enthusiasm, proving his competence among his peers from across Asia

Nagouj opened his 80 kg category competition in the first group, securing a valuable victory over Tajik player Fatouhi Mohammad Mahdi with a score of (2-1)

Although he lost the next match in the group against Iranian player Khodayi Touraj with a score of (0-2), this performance ensured his qualification for the knockout stages

In the semifinals, Nagouj faced a tough challenge, losing to Indian player Ravinder with a score of (0-2)

This loss did not end the young Jordanian player’s ambition but led him to the bronze medal match. In the placement match, Nagouj delivered a heroic and decisive performance, defeating Pakistani player Mohammad Abdulrahman with a score of (2-1), thereby claiming the precious bronze medal and giving Jordan a well-deserved achievement in this important continental tournament

Judo team concludes journey with honorable performance

At the same time, the national judo team concluded its participation in the third edition of the Asian Youth Games (Bahrain 2025) on Thursday, recording commendable results despite not winning any medals

Two players participated on the day: Haitham Adawi in the under-73 kg category, and Talin Khader in the under-63 kg category

Haitham Adawi delivered a remarkable and impressive performance, achieving two consecutive victories over Syrian player Mohammad Al-Rahwan and Kuwaiti player Ali Al-Jadi. These strong wins secured his qualification for the semifinals, placing him among the top four on the continent

In the semifinals, Adawi faced Kazakhstan champion Sevil Daoultekiri, losing the match and moving on to compete for the bronze medal. In the third-place match, Adawi fought well but ultimately lost to Indian player Harshit, finishing in fourth place with a performance worthy of praise for his high-level fighting and determination

As for young player Talin Khader, she faced a major challenge in the under-63 kg category, losing in the round of 16 to Mongolian player Ankh-Taivan Anudari. She then participated in the bronze medal match, losing to Chinese player Li Xishuan. Despite not winning a medal, Khader’s participation in such a continental event is highly valuable for gaining experience and exposure to strong Asian judo schools

Impressions and future aspirations

This Jordanian participation in the Asian Youth Games confirms the quality of the youth sports base in the Kingdom and shows that talent development is moving in the right direction. Zaid Nagouj’s achievement is proof of the great potential in wrestling and encourages more support and attention for this sport

While the judo team concludes its participation, there is a need to build on the strong performance delivered by Haitham Adawi, who came very close to the podium, to better prepare these players for future tournaments

The Asian Youth Games are not just a platform for competition; they are a true laboratory for refining skills and preparing the next generation of champions to represent Jordan in future Olympic and major Asian competitions