Pencak Silat to Showcase at 2025 Asian Youth Games, 14 Nations Ready to Compete!

This year, Asia's youth sports arena will breathe the spirit of the Archipelago. For the first time in history, pencak silat is officially contested at the Asian Youth Games (AYG) 2025 held in Bahrain.

Fourteen countries have confirmed participation: host Bahrain, followed by Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

 
Martial Art, Uniting Spirit
For Indonesia, pencak silat's presence at the AYG is more than just competition; it's a historic step. This traditional martial art born from the homeland finally gains a stage at the Asian level for young athletes aged 14–17.

Three events will be contested: Boys 51–55 kg, Boys 59–63 kg, and Girls 51–55 kg. Beyond mere matches, pencak silat's presence brings a story: about discipline, the philosophy of body and spirit, and the beauty of movement rooted in Archipelagic culture.

 
Schedule and Sports Expansion
Pencak silat competitions are scheduled to take place early, on October 19–20, preceding the official opening of the AYG 2025 on October 22–31 in Bahrain. Interestingly, this year the committee added two new sports — pencak silat and kurash — bringing the total to 26 sports. This move expands the spectrum of Asian sports and opens opportunities for cultural heritages like silat to be more widely recognized.

 
Hope from Bahrain
Chairman of the AYG 2025 Executive Committee, Yusuf Duaij, welcomed the inclusion of silat. In his meeting with Indonesian Pencak Silat Head Coach, Teddy Suratmadji, and representatives from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Bahrain, he called silat a "sport that brings fresh color and the spirit of authentic Asian culture."

 
From Local Trails to the World Stage
For sports and travel enthusiasts, this Asian Youth Games is not just about numbers and medals. Amid Bahrain's heat and the cheers of young Asian spectators, lies a story of Indonesian cultural heritage now dancing on the international stage.

Pencak silat has journeyed far from village arenas to the world stage — and at AYG 2025, it is ready to showcase one thing that never fades: grace within strength.

Source: ANTARA