DAKAR, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's Zhao Min won the women's 75kg beach wrestling gold at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) on Saturday, while host nation Senegal also had a successful day in beach wrestling, winning its first-ever two gold medals at YOG.
Zhao went unbeaten in her three group-stage bouts before defeating Senegal's Elisabeth Ebedo Diatta in the semifinals. She then beat India's Taniya in the final.
Taniya scored the opening point, but Zhao quickly drew level. The two wrestlers then engaged in a tight contest, with Zhao scoring a decisive point just 1.2 seconds before the final whistle to clinch the gold.
"Perhaps I had too long a break after the semifinal and my body had cooled down. In those final few seconds, I wasn't thinking about anything. I was just focused on wrestling," Zhao said.
"I just kept telling myself not to think too much. Once you step into the circle, before the wrestling even begins, you never know who is stronger," she added.
In other beach wrestling events, Venezuela's Wilfredo Grabiel Rodriguez Gonzalez won the men's 60kg title, while Senegal's Elisabeth Diatta and Maguette Diop triumphed in the women's 55kg and men's 80kg categories, respectively.
Diop said the victory was particularly meaningful as Senegal became the first African nation to host an Olympic event.
"Winning the gold medal here in Senegal with my people, I'm just so proud. It was not easy at all, but we did it," he said.
Four more gold medals will be up for grabs in beach wrestling on Sunday in Saly.
In gymnastics, China's men's team, comprising Yang Lanbin, Li Lezheng and Zhao Ruiyang, topped the qualification standings with a total of 159.228 points to book its place in Monday's team final. The Chinese gymnasts delivered solid performances in floor exercise, rings and vault.
As for the individual all-around qualification, Britain's Uzair Chowdhury led the field with 80.798 points, followed by Yang with 79.897 and Japan's Naoto Shiroiwa with 79.265. Li placed fifth with 77.131, while Zhao finished seventh with 76.197.
Under the competition rules, the top 18 gymnasts advance to the individual all-around final, with each delegation allowed a maximum of two athletes. Yang and Li will therefore represent China in Tuesday's final.
"The vault was what I was most satisfied with today," Yang said after the competition, adding that the landing was beyond expectations.
On Sunday, Chen Ziyan, Zhong Qi and Xie Guying will represent China in the women's gymnastics qualification, while China's women's 3x3 basketball team will take on Czechia in the quarterfinals.
Athletics will also get underway, with 10 gold medals on offer. China's Zhang Keyi will line up in the women's 100m hurdles, Zhang Hangyu in the men's 100m and Liu Han in the men's 400m. ■
