DAKAR, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- China's Chang Mohan claimed silver in the women's 200m individual medley at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Wednesday, while compatriot Zhang Yixin advanced to the badminton women's singles final.
It was Chang's second silver medal of the Games, following her runner-up finish in the 200m breaststroke. Japan's Mana Ishikawa won the women's 200m individual medley to claim her third gold medal at Dakar 2026.
"Racing against Ishikawa was a real challenge. I gave it everything I had out there today. Though I couldn't quite edge her out for the top podium, I feel good about my performance," Chang said, adding that fatigue, a strong field, venue conditions and competing outdoors had all made the race particularly demanding.
Recalling a friendly exchange with Chang, Ishikawa said the Chinese swimmer had approached her on the first day of competition to say hello, and the two had exchanged pins.
"She offered her congratulations right after the race, which made me so happy," the 17-year-old Japanese added.
In the women's 50m freestyle, Croatia's Ana Bobanovic claimed gold for her second title of the Games. She later took silver in the 50m butterfly, where Russia's Serafima Fokina won her second gold after triumphing in the 100m butterfly.
In the men's events, China's Xie Yichen withdrew from the 200m individual medley due to a health issue, with Japan's Iori Miyazaki going on to win the title.
Zdenek Prochazka of the Czech Republic claimed gold in the men's 50m freestyle, while Egypt's Zain Ali won the men's 50m butterfly to secure his second title following victory in the 100m butterfly.
In badminton, Zhang defeated top seed Ip Sum Yau of Hong Kong, China, and Chinese Taipei's Cheng Chihyun, both 2-0, to reach the women's singles final.
Zhang said both opponents were strong and that playing two matches in one day had taken a physical toll.
She added that the Youth Olympic format, with only one athlete representing each team in an event, had strengthened her determination to win and bring honor to her country.
In the men's singles, Hong Tianyue defeated India's second seed Dev Ruparelia before losing in the semifinals to third seed Riyan Malhan of the United Arab Emirates.
On Thursday, Zhang will face India's Tanvi Patri in the women's singles final, while Hong will take on South Korea's Park Jung-bin in the men's bronze-medal match.
In table tennis, China's Li Hechen lost 4-1 to Colombia's Emanuel Otalvaro in the men's singles quarterfinals. Li's defeat came a day after compatriot Yao Ruixuan was eliminated from the women's singles. The Chinese pair had also exited the mixed doubles on Sunday.
"I hadn't expected to beat my Chinese opponent 4-1, as this was the first time we had played against each other. I also served very well," said Otalvaro.
The men's and women's singles titles will be decided on Thursday. In the men's semifinals, Otalvaro will face Li Ki Ho of Hong Kong, China, while Japan's Ryuusei Kawakami takes on South Korea's Lee Seung-soo. In the women's semifinals, Japan's Miku Matsushima will play Chinese Taipei's Chen Minhsin, while Hong Kong, China's Su Tsz Tung faces Singapore's Loy Ming Ying.
In beach volleyball, China's Zhuang Ming and Qi Siyu finished fourth in the women's event after losing the bronze-medal match to Switzerland's Noemi Eugster and Anja Gaehwiler.
Reflecting on their overall performance, Qi said the pressure of being the top seeds, coupled with their strong desire to win a medal, had weighed on them.
The Netherlands' Jara Both and Matilda de Groot defeated Italy's Margherita Coretti and Micol Lafuenti to win the women's title. In the men's final, Austria's Martin Poinstingl and Paul Hohenauer beat Germany's Lasse Hueper and Filo Wuest to claim gold.
Skateboarding made its debut as a medal sport at the Youth Olympic Games, with Julian Jeang-Agliardi of the United States winning the first gold medal in the sport's Youth Olympic history.
China's Zhu Yuanling will compete in the women's skateboarding event on Thursday. Four swimming gold medals will be awarded, along with one in the men's triathlon. ■
