In a story straight out of a sports movie, a junior Abdulla Qassim has written his name into Bahraini history — not by being born into a champion legacy, but by forging one from scratch.
When Pencak Silat was unveiled as a brand-new sport at the 2025 Asian Youth Games (AYG) in Bahrain, the nation had a blank slate — no national federation, no trained athletes, no expectation. Just potential.
Enter the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sport, partnering with the International Pencak Silat Federation (IPSF-PERSILAT), dispatching two expert coaches – Muhammad Riski Adi Wijaya (inzet -left) and Hamdani Hermizal Razarudin (right) – on a mission: Find talent. Build an athlete. Represent Bahrain.
And they found their spark in Abdulla Qassim – a young man with fire in his eyes and no prior experience in the Pencak Silat martial art. In just weeks, under intense training, he transformed from a blank canvas into a national hero.
On October 20, 2025, at the climax of the Boys’ Pencak Silat Class D (51kg–55kg) final, Qassim squared off against Indonesia’s Winata Furgon Habbil. Every move was a battle of will, technique, and nerve. The crowd held its breath.
And then… silver.
Abdulla Qassim didn’t just win a medal. He delivered Bahrain’s first-ever medal at the Asian Youth Games — a moment that lit up social media, stadiums, and the heart of a nation.
The victory exploded across the Middle East, sparking conversations, viral clips, and a tidal wave of fascination with Pencak Silat — now suddenly cool, authentic, and powerfully inspiring.
This isn’t just a one-off triumph. With this performance, Qassim has already been selected as a key member of Bahrain’s junior team for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.
From zero to hero in less than a year — Abdulla Qassim’s journey proves that greatness isn’t inherited. It’s trained. It’s earned. And it starts with a single spark.
The future of Bahraini Pencak Silat isn’t just bright — it’s making its way onto the world stage. (tssd)