KUNA photo Athletes from Kuwait marched proudly, holding the national flag at the opening ceremony.

MANAMA, Oct 22 (KUNA): Nasser Al-Saqer captured Kuwait’s first medal at the Third Asian Youth Games 2025 in Bahrain on Thursday, earning a bronze in the teqball competition.

Al-Saqer delivered an impressive performance, defeating his Malaysian opponent in straight sets 2-0 to secure the podium finish.

Teqball, a fast-growing sport that blends elements of football and table tennis, is played on a curved table, with athletes competing to win matches in a best-of-three set format.

Meanwhile, the Third Asian Youth Games officially opened on Wednesday in a spectacular ceremony that brought together thousands of young athletes from 45 Asian countries, including the State of Kuwait.

Held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the opening ceremony reflected Bahrain’s growing reputation as a key destination for major continental sporting events. The occasion was attended by Kuwait Olympic Committee President Sheikh Fahad Nasser Al-Sabah, Vice President Sheikh Mubarak Faisal Al-Sabah, and Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Sports Bashar Abdullah, along with senior Asian sports officials, heads of Olympic committees, and participating delegations.

In his address, His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, emphasized that the Games bring together more than 6,000 athletes from across Asia, embodying the values of unity and solidarity that sport represents.

“The Asian Youth Games are more than a sporting event — they are a platform to discover and shape the future Olympic champions of our continent,” Sheikh Khalid said. “These young athletes are the seeds of hope and the leaders of tomorrow, carrying the dreams and ambitions of their nations toward a brighter sporting future.”

Sheikh Khalid extended a warm welcome to all participants, expressing confidence that this edition of the Games would mark a milestone in the history of Asian sports and demonstrate Bahrain’s capability to organize a major continental event in record time through the collective efforts of all national entities. He also expressed gratitude to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for entrusting Bahrain with the honor of hosting and to everyone involved in organizing this significant youth sporting event.

Timothy Fok Tsun Ting, First Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia, commended the Bahraini organizing committee for its exceptional preparations and the impressive execution of the opening ceremony. He praised Bahrain’s proven expertise in hosting major international tournaments, affirming the OCA’s confidence in the Kingdom’s organizational excellence.

The opening ceremony featured a vibrant artistic showcase celebrating Bahrain’s heritage, maritime history, and youth empowerment. The performance combined advanced lighting, drone choreography, and digital visual effects to deliver a captivating display. The Parade of Nations followed, with athletes proudly carrying their national flags, before the lighting of the Asian Games torch officially signaled the start of the competitions.

The Games will continue over the coming days at several state-of-the-art sports venues, featuring a full schedule of individual and team events. High competition levels are anticipated, with strong potential for discovering emerging Asian talents.

Some competitions began ahead of the official opening. The Kuwait youth handball team made an impressive start, defeating Kazakhstan 42–26 and Thailand 43–15 in Group B. The team will next face the United Arab Emirates on Thursday at 6:00 p.m.

The Third Asian Youth Games will continue through October 31, with competitions across multiple disciplines showcasing the continent’s next generation of athletic talent.