WANA (Oct 31) – The Iranian delegation, known as the Ambassadors of Hope, achieved a historic rise to fourth place in the medal standings at the third Asian Youth Games 2025 in Bahrain, climbing sixteen spots compared to the previous edition.

 

Iran participated in the Games with 239 athletes across 24 sports under the slogan Hope of Iran, and concluded the event with a total of 76 medals — 22 gold, 18 silver, and 36 bronze. This marked a remarkable 950 percent increase in total medals compared to the previous Games and represented a record-setting 80 percent medal rate across the sports in which Iranian athletes competed.

 

Around 70 percent of Iranian athletes won medals, with women securing 47 percent of the country’s total medals. Iran also recorded its best-ever performance in team events and, in terms of the diversity of medal-winning sports (19 disciplines), ranked jointly with China at the top of Asia.

Iranian athlete Baran Jani captured the gold medal in the girls’ Muay Thai competition at the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Iranian athlete Baran Jani captured the gold medal in the girls’ Muay Thai competition at the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Iran’s Performance in Previous Editions

At the inaugural edition in Singapore (2009), Iran competed with 54 athletes, earning one gold, three silver, and two bronze medals to finish 11th overall. In the second edition in Nanjing (2013), the country participated with 79 athletes, winning six silver and two bronze medals and placing 20th in the standings.

 

In the third edition, held in Bahrain in 2025, the large Iranian delegation made a dramatic leap, finishing fourth overall in Asia. Iran captured 8.5 percent of all gold medals and 8.5 percent of the total medals awarded at the Games.

 

Officials described this achievement as the result of a focused, quality-driven approach emphasizing youth development and investment in emerging athletic talent.