100 athletes represent Sri Lanka at Asian Youth Games

By Susil Premalal

The third Asian Youth Games (Under-18) commences today in Bahrain with five team events organized by the Asian Olympic Council (AOC) with Sri Lanka fielding as many as 100 athletes.

The team competitions in handball, Kabaddi, Kurash, Pencak Silat, and beach volleyball begin from today. After a 12-year hiatus, the Games are being held with the participation of 45 countries across Asia and will continue until October 31, 2025.

The Asian Youth Games, planned to be held every four years, had previously taken place in 2009 (Singapore) and 2013 (China).

Sri Lanka has 56 male athletes and 44 female athletes taking part in athletics, badminton, 3×3 basketball, boxing, e-sports, golf, kabaddi, swimming, taekwondo, beach volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.

Janidu Dhananjaya, a male boxing athlete, has been appointed as the captain of the men’s contingent while Dilini Nethsara will serve as the women’s captain. 

Both will have the honour of carrying the Sri Lankan flag during the official opening ceremony scheduled for October 22.

At the previous edition held in Nanjing, China in 2013, Sri Lanka secured one silver medal and five bronze medals.