DAKAR, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- China claimed titles in both men's and women's team gymnastics at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Monday, and added two silver medals and a bronze in athletics.
China's women's 3x3 basketball team also took silver after a narrow final defeat.
At the Dakar Exhibition Center, China's men's gymnastics team, comprising Yang Lanbin, Li Lezheng and Zhao Ruiyang, delivered strong performances in floor exercise, horizontal bar and parallel bars to score 158.463 points and finish ahead of Japan and Britain.
In the women's final, Chen Ziyan, Zhong Qi and Xie Guying combined solid performances on the uneven bars and balance beam to secure gold with 107.798 points, edging Japan by 0.234 points.
Yang said the gold medal had not come easily, noting that the team had undertaken intensive routine training every week during preparations while working to manage fatigue and avoid injuries.
"The competition went very smoothly today, and everyone was able to perform with confidence," he added.
Xie said the team had delivered as expected in its traditionally strong events, the uneven bars and balance beam. She added that unity and cooperation among teammates had been key to their success.
"In a team event, the most important thing is for everyone to work together and support one another," she said.
At Iba Mar Diop Stadium, China collected two silver medals and a bronze in athletics.
Chen Shijie clocked a personal best of 13.40 seconds to take silver in the men's 110m hurdles, while Jamaica's Marquies Page won the gold in 12.95 seconds.
Chen said he had been overly excited and a bit nervous, which affected his rhythm during the race.
Noting that he had bruised his foot while practicing the hurdles, he said: "I still lack experience in major competitions."
In the men's high jump, Liu Sen cleared 2.14 meters, setting a personal best and earning silver. South Africa's Matao Le Roux took gold with 2.16 meters. Liu Han claimed bronze in the men's 400m in 47.16 seconds, while the United Arab Emirates' Saeed Omar won gold in 46.40 seconds.
Among other events featuring Chinese athletes, Italy's Poko Silvia Canape won the women's long jump, with Liu Lixuan finishing sixth. Colombia's Ilsa Mayerlin Cordoba claimed the women's javelin title, while Wang Changle also placed sixth. Wang Tengfei finished fourth in his men's 400m hurdles semifinal heat to qualify for Tuesday's final.
Ethiopia was the most successful nation on the athletics track, winning three gold medals. Junedin Abdo triumphed in the men's 2,000m steeplechase, Wabi Seblega won the men's 1,500m, and Netsanet Selemon claimed the women's 800m title.
Egypt's Yahya Sawaby won the men's discus, Brazil's Pyetro Henrico Souza took the men's shot put, Nigeria's Praise Ugoh claimed the women's 400m, and Kenya's Faith Rono won the women's 3,000m.
In 3x3 basketball, China's women's team edged host Senegal 21-19 in the semifinals to reach the final, where it narrowly lost 12-11 to Poland to take silver.
China's coach Liu Shengbin said the team had faced numerous challenges during preparations, with the young players lacking experience in international competitions.
Despite overcoming difficulties related to weather, time differences and food, the players felt considerable psychological pressure in the final and made some mistakes, Liu said, adding, "They gave everything they had. I don't think there is anything to regret."
In the men's final, Senegal edged Lithuania 14-13 to claim the gold medal.
In Saly, China's women's beach handball team lost 2-1 to Spain before beating Croatia by the same score in the group stage. The team will face Mexico in its final group match on Tuesday.
In the women's windsurfing, Wu Ziyan slipped to third overall after finishing sixth and seventh in races four and five, respectively, and recording a DNC in race six. Races seven to nine are scheduled for Tuesday.
In fencing, Hong Kong, China's Ho Shing Him Harris defeated Japan's Maeda Masashi 15-8 to win the men's individual foil title. In taekwondo, Chinese Taipei's Cheng Po-Yu won the men's 55kg gold, while South Korea's Lee Si-woo claimed the women's 49kg title.
Türkiye's Dunya Yenihayat defeated Whang Ye-Eun from the United States to win the women's individual archery title.
On Tuesday, China's Yang and Li will compete in the men's all-around gymnastics final, while Xie and Zhong will contest the women's final. In boxing, Wang Jia'en and Zhang Zhengkun will face Egypt's Menatalla Ibrahim and Seychelles' Franco Zialor, respectively, in the women's and men's 60kg quarterfinals.
Athletics will reach its final day on Tuesday, with 14 gold medals up for grabs. China's Sheng Xuefeng will compete in the men's triple jump, Yang Xingyue in the women's hammer throw, and Wang Yaru and Chen Xinxuan in the women's 5,000m race walk and 200m, respectively. ■
