Manama, Bahrain, October 20, 2025: Uzbekistan dominated the kurash competition at the 3rd Asian Youth Games winning all four gold medals on offer to head the medal standings at the end of the second day of competition on Monday, October 20.
Shohjahan Golibov and Mubinabonu Karimova each won a gold medal to add to the two gold medals won by Durdona Tursunova and Otabek Yuldashboev on the opening day on Sunday.
Golibov defeated Iranian Mehrab Mokarrami in the final of the Boys’ -83kg class while the second gold was won by Karimova who defeated India’s Kanishka Bidhuri in the Girls’ -52kg final.
Athletes from 14 NOCs competed in kurash making its debut at the Asian Youth Games. And it was no surprise that Uzbekistan, the traditional home for the ancient martial art, should dominate by winning all the golds on offer.
Uzbekistan leads the medal standings with five golds – the other coming in pencak silat where Nurislom Ruziboev defeated Temir Bikboev of Kyrgyzstan in the final of the Boys’ 59kg-63kg class.
Pencak silat, an Indonesian martial art, was also debuting at the games. Both the kurash and pencak silat competitions ended before the opening ceremony on Wednesday, October 22.
The Philippines also won its first gold medal in pencak silat with Airam Carpio winning the final of the Girls’ 51-55kg class.
