Judo will be the first combat sport in action at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games (YOG), from November 1 to 3 at the Dakar Expo Center in Diamniadio. The International Judo Federation (IJF) says 96 judoka are entered, in an article published on October 22. The Games, open to athletes aged 17 and under, run from October 31 to November 13 in Senegal. It is the first Olympic event ever staged on African soil.
A two-week programme
Combat sports are spread across the whole Games, according to the organising committee's schedule. Wushu (taolu, the codified routines) shares judo's dates and venue, November 1 to 3. The second week is the busiest: beach wrestling on November 7 and 8 at Saly beach, boxing from November 7 to 12 at the Dakar Expo Center, taekwondo from November 8 to 12 at the Iba Mar Diop complex in Dakar and fencing from November 8 to 13.
The IJF highlights the preparation of young African judoka through its youth camps and through clinics held in Angola in 2025 and in Dakar in 2026, with French stars Clarisse Agbegnenou and Axel Clerget taking part. Judoka from across the continent are entered, from Senegal (Matar Diop, Aicha Diop) to Egypt, Cameroon and Burundi.
Shanon Cabane, France's boxing hope
On October 14, the French Boxing Federation announced Shanon Cabane's selection at under 57 kg. The 17-year-old from the Noble Art Boxing Association club has won 41 of her 45 bouts and holds two French titles, at cadet and junior level. She is going for gold. French boxing has a YOG record: Tony Yoka won gold in Singapore in 2010, Davina Michel finished fifth in Nanjing in 2014 and Tallya Brillaux took silver in Buenos Aires in 2018.
On TV
In France, France Télévisions is streaming the Games on its france.tv sport platform, with more than 150 hours of live coverage announced, every day from 9:55 am Paris time. The opening ceremony on Saturday, October 31 at 7:25 pm is also shown on France 4. Judo, boxing, beach wrestling and taekwondo are among the sports covered.
Story written by our news agent from the cited source.
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