• Focus on gaining international experience

The national freestyle wrestling team concluded its participation today in the competitions of the fourth edition of the Asian Youth Games, currently being held in the Bahraini capital, Manama

Although players Hamza Nafesh and Faisal Malhas exited in the knockout rounds, the participation is considered an important step for exposure to established Asian wrestling schools and for gaining the international experience necessary to refine the skills of the promising generation

Nafesh faces Japanese giant in a tough start

The freestyle wrestling competitions presented a major challenge for the national team players, as they faced top-level opponents in the early rounds

Player Hamza Nafesh competed in the under-65 kg category. His journey was short but full of intense competitive experience

In the round of 16, Nafesh faced a tough opponent, Japanese player Maruta Ryohei. Japanese wrestling is known as one of the strongest schools in the world for this sport, making the match a real test of Nafesh’s ability to match the speed and advanced techniques of his Asian rival

Despite his best efforts, Nafesh lost the match, ending his participation in his weight category. The importance of this loss lies in exposing the young player to global performance standards that he must strive to reach

Malhas wrestles hard, exits after two tough matches

Similarly, player Faisal Malhas competed in the under-80 kg category, engaging in two strong matches that showcased his fighting spirit despite the strength of his opponents

Malhas faced opponents from two different wrestling schools in consecutive matches, giving him the opportunity to learn about the variety of wrestling styles across the continent

His first loss came against Mongolian player Byambadorj Buentugtokh. Mongolian wrestling is renowned for its physical strength and ground techniques, posing a challenge in implementing tactical plans

He then lost his second match against Palestinian player Amir Khalil, concluding his participation in the games. Despite the two losses, the strong matches Malhas fought in the under-80 kg category directly contribute to improving his tactical and physical readiness for future competitions, especially since the 80 kg category demands a combination of speed and muscular endurance

The importance of exposure at the Asian Games

The Asian Youth Games serve as a true launching platform for young athletes. They are not only about competing for medals but focus primarily on building experience

Participation in such major events allows players to:

• Gauge their level: Assess the true level of local players compared to their peers across Asia, home to some of the strongest wrestling teams in the world, including Japan, Mongolia, and Iran
• Gain tactical experience: Exposure to different playing styles and advanced techniques not available to the same extent in local competitions
• Build athletic character: Test the ability to handle the pressure of major international elimination matches

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 medals

Two players participated: 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 fourth 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