Manama, Bahrain, October 6, 2026: Bahrain finished as the highest-ranked Arab nation at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games after winning 11 gold, five silver and six bronze for a total of 22 medals.
The kingdom’s strongest performance came in athletics, which accounted for 13 of its medals, including nine gold, two silver and two bronze, as Bahrain made its mark across a wide range of sports.
Bahrain’s men’s handball team also secured a historic first Asian Games gold after beating Qatar 33-32 in the final.
The victory marked a breakthrough for the team, which had reached the final at each of the two previous editions without winning the title.
Athletics provided the bulk of Bahrain’s success, with Winfred Yavi among the standout performers, while Birhanu Balew won gold in the men’s 5,000 metres. Bahrain also collected medals in relays and other track events.
Swimming provided another landmark moment for the kingdom when Mikhail Arkhangelskiy won the men’s 50 metre butterfly securing Bahrain’s first-ever Asian Games swimming medal.
Bahrain’s gold medal haul saw it finish ahead of all other Arab nations in the overall standings - ending in 10th position - highlighting the country’s growing presence across Asian sport.
Source: Arab Times
