By Alpha Barrie

Five combat and martial arts disciplines will take centre stage at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, as nearly 2,700 young athletes from around the world gather in Senegal for the first Olympic sporting event to be hosted on African soil.

The Games will run from October 31 to November 13, featuring 25 sports, with judo, wushu taolu, taekwondo, fencing and boxing expected to provide some of the most intense and technically demanding contests.

Judo will open the combat sports programme from November 1 to 3 at the Dakar Exhibition Center in Diamniadio. The discipline is built around balance, technique and the ability to use an opponent’s strength and movement to gain an advantage.

Wushu taolu, also scheduled for November 1 to 3 at the Dakar Exhibition Center, will offer a different spectacle. Athletes perform choreographed routines drawn from Chinese martial arts, with performances judged on precision, fluidity, difficulty and execution.

Taekwondo will follow from November 8 to 12 at the Complexe Iba Mar Diop. Known for its speed, powerful kicks and precision, the Korean martial art demands strong physical, technical and mental control.

Fencing will be staged from November 8 to 13 at the Dakar Exhibition Center. Competitors will face each other using foil, épée or sabre, with speed, strategy, precision and anticipation crucial to securing victory.

Boxing will complete the combat sports programme, with competition scheduled from November 7 to 12 at the Dakar Exhibition Center. Young boxers will need to combine punching accuracy, movement, defence and strategy, with timing and tactical awareness proving just as important as power.

Although the five disciplines differ in format and style, they share common values of discipline, precision, commitment, strategy and self-control.

Their inclusion is expected to add variety and excitement to Dakar 2026 while giving young athletes and spectators an opportunity to experience the different traditions and competitive demands of combat sports.