Kanishka Bidhuri bagged a silver in the women’s 52kg event, as Arvind added a bronze in the men’s 83kg category.
Asian Youth Games 2025: Kanishka Bidhuri and Arvind Shine in Kurash with Silver and Bronze
India’s young athletes continued their medal-winning streak at the Asian Youth Games 2025 in Manama, Bahrain, as Kanishka Bidhuri and Arvind bagged silver and bronze medals, respectively, in kurash on Monday.
Kanishka Bidhuri’s Remarkable Run to Silver
Competing in the women’s 52kg category at the Exhibition World Bahrain, Kanishka displayed incredible determination throughout her bouts.
She began her campaign in the Round of 16, defeating Zhibek Tobokelova 3-0, followed by a commanding 5-0 win over Thailand’s Waratchaya Khundee in the quarter-finals.
In the semi-finals, she overwhelmed Setayesh Jalaloddin from the Islamic Republic of Iran with a 10-0 victory, earning her spot in the final.
However, in a closely contested title bout, Kanishka suffered a narrow 3-0 defeat against Uzbekistan’s Mubinabonu Karimova, settling for a well-deserved silver medal.
Arvind’s Strong Bronze Finish in Men’s 83kg
In the men’s 83kg category, Arvind began his campaign from the quarter-finals, where he dominated Hilol Davlatzoda of Tajikistan with a 10-0 victory.
Despite a tough challenge in the semi-finals, where he lost 10-0 to Uzbekistan’s Shohjahon Golibov, Arvind secured a bronze medal. There were no bronze medal playoffs, with both losing semi-finalists awarded the medal.
Team India’s Kurash Contingent Makes Its Mark
India fielded a four-member kurash team at the Asian Youth Games. Earlier, Khushi opened India’s medal tally in the sport with a bronze in the women’s 70kg category on Sunday, adding to the team’s growing list of achievements.
Understanding Kurash: The Ancient Art of Grappling
Kurash, a traditional form of wrestling popular in Central Asia, emphasizes throws and balance. Two competitors face off with the goal of throwing the opponent to the ground:
- A perfect back throw results in instant victory.
- Throws onto the side or belly earn varying points based on execution.
- The athlete with the most points at the end is declared the winner.
The sport made its Asian Games debut in Jakarta 2018, where India clinched two medals. However, the nation went medal-less at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, making this youth-level success a refreshing comeback.
India at the Asian Youth Games 2025
A total of 222 Indian athletes are representing the country across multiple sports at the Asian Youth Games 2025, which will conclude on October 31. The medals in kurash highlight India’s rising talent and potential in less mainstream disciplines.
