Pakistan to field a 53-member contingent at Asian Youth Games

The players will compete in eight disciplines in Bahrain

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Sports Board approved the participation of a 53-member Pakistani contingent in the 3rd Asian Youth Games, scheduled to be held in Bahrain from October 22 to 31, 2025.

The Asian Youth Gamws are making a comeback after 12 years, as the last edition of it took place in 2013.

The approval was granted following clearances from the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is subject to the final clearance from the Ministry of Interior.

The contingent, comprising a mix of talented athletes and experienced officials, will represent the country across eight sports disciplines: Athletics, Badminton, Ju-Jitsu, Kabaddi, Swimming, Taekwondo, Volleyball, and Wrestling. Mr. Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister Youth Programme, will lead the delegation as the Chef de Mission.

In a significant move to uphold the integrity of national sports, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) strictly enforced a merit-only policy for the selection of this contingent. This policy, adopted by the Director General of PSB Yasir Pirzada, discourages self-sponsorship, a practice that had been misused in the past to allow privileged individuals to bypass the official selection criteria.

"This contingent represents the pure sporting talent of our nation," a PSB spokesperson stated. 

"Under the clear directives of DG PSB we have ensured that every athlete selected has earned their place through proven skill and performance, not through privilege or personal wealth. The era of using sports as a gateway for foreign trips is over. Our focus is solely on those athletes who have the potential to bring glory to Pakistan."