- 09:15
In Manama, Lebanese athlete Hala Mekdashi snatched a superb silver medal in muay thai (30–27 in the final), offering Lebanon its very first podium finish at the Asian Youth Games. The delegation keeps the momentum going: table tennis off to a good start, and boxing in the quarterfinals as of tomorrow.
The Lebanese flag proudly found its place on the Manama podium. After four days of intense fights, Hala Mekdashi delivered an exceptional performance at the 2025 Asian Youth Games. Narrowly defeated in the final by Palestinian Vivian Alis (30–27), the young Lebanese champion has placed Lebanon on the medals table for the first time since the creation of the competition (2009, 2013), launching the Cedars’ campaign under the best possible conditions.
Muay Thai: Silver with a Golden Taste
Explosive in her commitment and precise in her combinations, Mekdashi paved her way to the final with three consecutive victories. In the championship bout, she once again found the strength to contest every exchange before falling just short (30–27).
“Hala left everything in the ring after four days of fighting. This silver medal tastes like gold,” said Sami Koblawi, President of the Lebanese Muay Thai Federation, praising “a historic first milestone for the discipline and for Lebanon at the Youth Games.”
The Cedars’ Support in the Stands
In the stands and ringside, Lebanon’s ambassador to Bahrain Hadi Hachem, General Souheil Khoury, Hassan Rostom, Head of Mission Wassim Ismaïl, and delegation administrator Wassam Cherrisurrounded the champion. In her corner stood coach Ali Fakih, the architect behind Mekdashi’s rise in form.
Table Tennis: Victorious Start
Lebanon’s campaign also kicked off in table tennis, with Michel Abi Nader and Bissan Cherri defeating Kuwait’s Fatma Al-Shammari and Bader Al-Houti (3–2). The men’s and women’s singles events have also begun, featuring strong continental competition.
Boxing: On to the Final Four
In boxing, Ramzi Hilal advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Malaysia’s Adam (5–0). He will face Jordan’s Moataz Al-Mashaali on Monday for a spot in the semifinals.
Driven by Mekdashi’s silver medal and the positive energy from these first competitions, the Lebanese delegation approaches the next events with ambition. The goal: capitalize, build momentum, and carve more achievements into the record books.
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