A total of 14 countries have confirmed their participation in this inaugural event.
The competitors include the host, Bahrain, along with other nations such as Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
Furthermore, four Central Asian countries—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—are also expected to compete.
The competition itself is scheduled to take place just before the Opening Ceremony on October 19–20 and will feature three specific weight classes for young athletes aged 14 to 17.
The sport's inclusion, announced last month alongside Kurash (a Central Asian wrestling sport), increased the total number of events in the Games from 24 to 26, which the International Pencak Silat Federation (IPSF) considers a major milestone.
The AYG Executive Committee, whose chairperson Yusuf Duaij acknowledged the sport's widespread popularity across Asia, has committed to organizing the competition to the highest standards.
The addition of pencak silat at the AYG is seen as a valuable step toward greater international recognition for the traditional martial art.
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Translator: Muhammad Ramdan, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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