Historic Debut for Indonesian Athletes in Camel Racing at 2025 Asian Youth Games

Bahrain's desert sands witnessed the birth of new history for Indonesian sports. For the first time, the Red and White flag flew on the camel racing track, thanks to the bold steps of a young athlete named Mohammad Al Fathih Abdillah.

This teenage athlete didn't just represent Indonesia; he also paved the way for a sport that has rarely been heard of in the homeland.

At the Asian Youth Games (AYG) 2025, Fathih became Indonesia's first representative to compete in camel racing.

"Alhamdulillah, I feel incredibly proud to carry Indonesia's name. This is also the first time Indonesia has participated in camel racing," Fathih stated in a written release received in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Sprint in the Desert: A Proud Debut

Competing in the 500-meter individual sprint race held at the Equestrian Endurance Village, Fathih faced 16 of Asia's best young camel jockeys.

Despite undergoing only 12 days of intensive training in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, he performed confidently and finished in 11th place with a time of 1 minute and 6 seconds.

"I'm still not fully bonded with the camel because we use camels from here and the adaptation time was limited. But this experience is very valuable. I want to become Indonesia's first camel racing athlete to win a gold medal at an international event," said Fathih.

Amid the Desert Heat, Garuda Still Soared

The race unfolded under the blazing desert sun, where the camel's speed and endurance were decisive factors.

As expected, dominance still belonged to Middle Eastern athletes. Two representatives from the UAE, Mohammed Umair Al Rashedi and Khalifa Alghfeli, dominated the top podium spots with a time of 45 seconds.

Meanwhile, third place was secured by M. Wasmi Sultan Al Balawi from Saudi Arabia with a time of 48 seconds.

However, beyond the results, Indonesia's participation became a spotlight in itself. For a newly embraced sport, finishing mid-table is an achievement on its own.

A New Milestone for Indonesian Sports

Indonesian camel racing team coach, Wahyu Setiawan, called this result a significant milestone in national sports history.

"Even though it's only our debut, our position isn't far behind. This is an important milestone because no Indonesian has ever been involved in this sport before," he said.

Wahyu also emphasized that Fathih's step is not the end, but the beginning of a long journey to develop this exotic sport.

"We are also looking for locations in Indonesia suitable for hosting camel racing competitions so this sport can grow in our homeland," he added.

From the Desert to the Archipelago: A Dream Beginning to Ignite

Fathih's participation not only opened the world's eyes that Indonesia has brave talent in a new sport but also ignited a new spirit among the younger generation.

With the support of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (NOC Indonesia) and the Camel Racing Indonesia community, the hope of seeing the Red and White flag fly on the international camel racing podium now feels increasingly tangible.

Fathih's small step on the Bahraini desert is indeed just the beginning. But from that hot sand, the new historical footprints of Indonesian sports begin to be etched.