Shuttler Tanvi Patri in India’s 17-member contingent for the Dakar Youth Olympics
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has announced a 17-member contingent of athletes across 11 sports for the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Senegal, scheduled to be held from October 31 to November 13.
The Games will be the first Olympic event to be held on the African continent, with around 2,700 young athletes from 207 delegations competing in 25 sports. The Youth Olympics are for athletes under the age of 17 at the time of the event and combine international competition with opportunities for learning and cultural exchange.
The Indian contingent will have athletes from archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, equestrian, judo, sailing, swimming, table tennis, beach wrestling and wushu. Among those selected is badminton player Tanvi Patri, who will compete in the women’s singles at Dakar. Her selection adds to India’s representation in the sport, where the country has built a strong position on the international stage.
IOA President PT Usha described Dakar 2026 as an important milestone for young Indian athletes and highlighted the contingent’s potential to contribute to the country’s future sporting ambitions.
“Dakar 2026 is an important milestone for our young athletes. They represent the future of Indian sports and among them may be the champions who will represent India at Brisbane 2032 and beyond,” Usha said.
She also congratulated the Dakar 2026 Organizing Committee and the Senegalese Olympic Committee, describing the hosting of the first Olympic event in Africa as a historic moment for the Olympic movement.
The Games will also provide the IOA with the opportunity to engage with National Olympic Committees from around the world on talent identification, athlete development and pathways from youth sport to elite competition. Such exchanges could inform India’s preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Amdavad and the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane.
During the Games, Usha is also expected to sign memorandums of understanding on sports cooperation and exchange with the National Olympic Committees of several African countries, including Namibia and Mauritius. These agreements are intended to promote exchanges of athletes and coaches, the sharing of technical knowledge and training procedures, and wider cooperation between sports organizations.
India’s representatives include table tennis player Sarthak Arya, who sees the Youth Olympics as a stepping stone to his long-term ambitions.
“Youth Olympics will be a stepping stone in my journey. My dream is to represent India at Commonwealth Games in Amdavad in 2030 and then in Brisbane Olympics in 2032,” said Arya.
He also expressed hope to participate in future Olympics in India should the country secure the opportunity to host the 2036 edition.
The IOA wished the athletes, coaches and support staff all the best as they prepare to represent India in Senegal.
Indian contingent for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games
- Archery: Gatha Anandrao Khadake – Women’s Individual
- Athletics: Shourya Ambure – Women’s 100m Hurdles
- Badminton: Tanvi Patri – Women’s Singles; Dev Ruparelia – Men’s Singles
- Boxing: Gunjan – Women 48kg; Ambekar Meetei Lairenlakpam – Men 50 kg
- Equestrian: Sresht Raju Mantena – Individual Show Jumping
- Judo: Khushbu Rajakbhai Darjada – Women’s 63 kg
- Sailing: Priyanshi Patil – Women’s Windsurfing
- Swimming: Dhinidhi Desinghu – Women’s 100m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle and 200m Individual Medley; Tirthank Pegu – Men’s 100m Butterfly and 200m Butterfly
- Table Tennis: Syndrela Das – Women’s Singles/Sarthak Arya – Men’s Singles
- Beach match: Antra – women 65 kg; Taniya – Women 75kg; Anuj – Men 70 kg; Deepanshu Khokhar – Men’s 80kg
- Wushu: Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu – Women’s Changquan Combination
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