A week after the start of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), Senegal finally won three gold medals and one bronze this weekend in beach wrestling. A fine performance that should inspire the 3x3 basketball teams, who are competing today for a place in the finals in both the girls’ and boys’ competitions.

By Woury DIALLO – It took exactly one week after the opening ceremony for Senegal to win its first gold medal. It was a long week of waiting, during which the host nation had secured only a single bronze medal, won by Matar Diop in the 66kg judo category. However, in the space of a single afternoon, the wrestling community set the record straight at Place de Saly with two gold medals. First, it was wrestler Elisabeth Diatta who paved the way. At just 16 years old, she became Senegal’s very first gold medallist by defeating Japan’s Reisa Kojima (5–1) in the final. It was a special and historic moment for an entire country, but also for the sport as a whole. In fact, she went on to set the tone for her team-mate, Maguette Diop (80 kg), a few minutes later, in a hard-fought bout against Azerbaijan’s Nihad Suleymanli (4–0).

The icing on the cake could only have come from Ndeye Khady Anna Diatta, the flag-bearer for the Senegalese delegation. She won the gold medal in the women’s 45 kg category at the beach wrestling tournament. Having defeated Colombia’s Rubio Torres Valery Edith (3–0) in the semi-final, Ndeye Khady Anna Diatta went on to beat Mexico’s Rios Silva (3–1) to secure Senegal’s third gold medal in wrestling.

Senegal has secured another medal, once again in wrestling, with Abdoulaye Diouf winning the bronze medal in the under-90kg category on Sunday. The Senegalese wrestler has thus enabled his country to add to its medal tally in a discipline that continues to fly the flag for Senegal during these Games, reports wiwsport. He defeated Brazil’s Allan Smith. This is the third bronze medal won, following those in judo, team equestrian and beach wrestling. The wrestlers’ performance should inspire other disciplines, such as 3x3 basketball, which has enjoyed an excellent run since the start of the competition. The Lioncelles and Lionceaux are competing in the semi-finals this morning, aiming to secure a place in the final, against China and Germany respectively. In other words, all eyes will be on the Tour de l’œuf Complex at Point E.

wdiallo@lequotidien.sn

This article is a translation of a French original published by Le Quotidien. Lire l’original en français →