Cambodia’s pencak silat delegation returned home Wednesday night with a bronze medal from the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 in Bahrain, while the Kun Khmer and mixed martial arts (MMA) teams are set to begin their own medal campaigns tonight, October 23.
Last night, the athletes took part in a lively, colourful opening ceremony the previous night.
Officials from the Pencak Silat Federation expressed their excitement at the team’s success, noting that Phouk Daniel’s bronze medal — in the 51–55 kg category — was Cambodia’s first-ever medal at the Asian Youth Games.
Chheang Sovanratana, vice-president of the Cambodian Pencak Silat Federation, welcomed the delegation at Techo International Airport on Wednesday night.
“As the leaders of the federation, we initially viewed the games mainly as a learning experience for our athletes. We are so proud of our athletes — they not only gained valuable experience; they also brought home a bronze medal for the nation,” he said.
“This achievement sets an excellent example for our other athletes. We shouldn’t think that just because we compete against major countries with long-established training programmes, we can’t win medals. We’ve now proven that even with just two months of preparation, we earned a bronze medal. Imagine what we could achieve with longer training and more resources — our athletes could win even higher honours for Cambodia. After all, we only sent two athletes to the games,” he added.
Tonight, Cambodia will compete in its four remaining disciplines: Athletics, 3×3 basketball, Kun Khmer and MMA.
The two combat sports are viewed as having the strongest potential to claim additional medals for Cambodia.
The optimism comes from the fact that three Kun Khmer fighters and two MMA fighters have already drawn automatic placements into the quarterfinals, meaning they only need one victory to secure at least a bronze, even if they do not advance to the finals.
In Kun Khmer, the three fighters who advanced directly to the quarterfinals are: Porn Sarapich, who will face Abdullah Osamah Hus of Iraq; Sai Sophea, who meets Mia Nur Al Aman Nas of Malaysia; and Om Sreypenh, who fights Hananeh Taghipoorheid of Iran.
All three will compete tomorrow, October 24.
Six other Kun Khmer athletes will fight tonight.
The bouts include Chhong Visal vs. Suphak Chanthachaem of Thailand (under 54 kg, Round of 32); Khun Dimey vs. Martin James Fernando of the Philippines (under 57 kg, Round of 16); Ly Sreynuch vs. Khwanpitch Chinno of Thailand (under 45 kg, Round of 16); Hem Mangsrun vs. Sheng Qian of China (under 60 kg, Round of 16); Vuthy Chanthon vs. Sayed Alawi Abdulla of Bahrain (under 45 kg, Round of 16); and Thorn Chanthou vs. Sirawich Poomithaworn of Thailand (under 51 kg, Round of 16).
Two female MMA fighters have also advanced directly to the quarterfinals: Khorn Vichetchantra (45 kg) will face Ratcliff Charlie of the Philippines, while Tep Sreynich (55 kg) will fight Takada Atsuhi of Japan. Both matches will take place tonight.
Cambodia’s other two MMA fighters — Sok Devit (50 kg), who faces Sharifov Umar of Tajikistan, and Ry Keosomnang (55 kg), who faces Himara Bumi Magani Abraar of Indonesia — will also compete tonight, in the Round of 16.
