October 19–20, 2025 – Bahrain
The stage was set, the energy was electric — and history was made as Pencak Silat stormed onto the global youth sports stage for the first time as an official medal sport at the 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG) 2025 in Bahrain!
In a thrilling two-day showdown at the Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB), 25 elite young warriors from 14 National Olympic Committees battled fiercely across three weight categories: D-Boys (51 kg – 55 kg), F-Boys (59 kg – 63 kg) and D-Girls (51 kg – 55 kg)
The participating nations were: Bahrain, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.
To ensure fairness and fierce competition, athletes were split into two strategic pools: Strong Nations and Emerging Nations, creating a level playing field where underdogs could shine and champions proved their dominance.
The event was graced by the prestigious presence of Mr. Hussain Al Musalam, Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
At the heart of the excitement was the Victory Ceremony, where medals were handed out by a stellar lineup of dignitaries: Mr. Benny Sumarsono (left), Executive Chairman of the International Pencak Silat Federation (IPSF-PERSILAT), Mr. Raja Sapta Oktohari (center), President of the National Olympic Committee of Indonesia, H.E. Ardi Hermawan (right), Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Bahrain and representatives from Bahrain’s Sports Authorities
In the back row stood the triumphant podium trio Winata Furgon Habbil (Indonesia) – D-Boys Gold, Abdulla Qassim (Bahrain) – Silver and Phouk Daniel (Cambodia) – Bronze
And the gold medal winners? A trio of champions who made their nation proud: Indonesia: Winata Furgon Habbil (D-Boys), Uzbekistan: Ruziboev Nurislom (F-Boys) and Philippines: Carpio Kram Airam (D-Girls)
This unforgettable debut isn’t just a win for athletes — it’s a major leap forward in Pencak Silat’s global journey. With its powerful blend of culture, technique, and athleticism, Pencak Silat now stands on the verge of a historic milestone: inclusion in the Youth Olympic Games 2026, set for Dakar, Senegal, from October to November 2026. (tssc)