On Sunday, fifteen-year-old Khushi got India its first medal at the Asian Youth Games 2025 held in Manama, Bahrain. She won bronze in the women’s 70 kg category of Kurash, a sport that made its first appearance in the tournament. Kurash is a form of upright jacket wrestling native to Uzbekistan.
Khushi lost the semi-finals match against Uzbekistan’s Durdona Tursunova by 0-5, who went on to win the gold medal in the event. Despite the loss, the Indian player secured a medal for her country. She was also joined by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Mahsa Barzegar on the podium, winning the bronze medal. Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan’s Saniet Talaibekova won the silver medal.
In the men’s competition, India’s Vaibhav, participating in the 65 kg category, lost the quarter-finals match. Uzbekistan’s Otabek Yuldashboev defeated Iranian Yousef Baghchighi by 2-0 to win gold in the men’s 65 division category.
A total of 222 Indian athletes are participating at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025, which will conclude on October 31.
The Kurash sport made its return to the Asian Games after 2018, where India won two medals.
What is Kurash – Sport?
Kurash refers to a traditional form of wrestling and is one of the world’s oldest martial arts, dating back 3,500 years, that is played wearing an upright jacket and originated in Uzbekistan. The sport is played with a player standing grappling and aiming to throw the opponent onto their back.
Initially, the sport was used in military training and was a public event held in Central Asia during the holidays, weddings, and festivals.
With Kurash making its debut at the Asian Youth Games, the General Secretary of the International Kurash Association, Mohamad Reza Nassiri, has expressed his excitement on its inclusion with 14 National Olympic Committees, including four weight categories, two for boys and two for girls.
Nassiri said, “I’m very happy with the response. We are thankful to the Olympic Council of Asia and the Bahrain organisers for including our sport in the programme at the last minute. Even so the response was great, and I’m sure if there was more time, we would have been able to get more countries participating.”
He added, “Kurash was at the last two Asian Games, in Jakarta and Hangzhou, but this is the first time at the Youth Games, and we are happy that young talent across Asia is taking up the sport.”
