The Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium vibrated on January 11, 2026 to the rhythm of the final of the second edition of the Panda Badminton Tournament, a sporting event that has become a true diplomatic symbol between Senegal and China. In an atmosphere marked by popular fervor and formal elegance, the competition established itself as a strong act of cultural and sporting cooperation, on the eve of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Speaking, Antoine Diandy Tony, president of the Senegalese Badminton Federation (FESBAD), recalled the strategic significance of this tournament, part of the Year of Friendship between Senegal and China. Beyond sporting performance, he called for a structuring project, the creation of a “temple of racket sports” intended to provide the country with modern infrastructure for badminton and table tennis. A solemn appeal launched to the State, partners and private actors, with a vision of sustainable development of Senegalese sport.
The international dimension of the event was reinforced by the intervention of His Excellency Mr. Li Zhigang, Ambassador of China to Senegal. In a dense and unifying speech, he underlined the role of sport as a universal language and a lever for bringing people together. The Panda Tournament, he said, illustrates both the Senegalese “Téranga” and the Chinese tradition of fraternity, while embodying the spirit of China/Africa human and cultural exchanges launched for the year 2026.
The Ambassador also placed this meeting in a broader geopolitical context, recalling the commitments made at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China/Africa Cooperation. He reaffirmed China’s active support for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, through equipment donations, expert exchanges and athlete training, highlighting the historic entry of Wushu into the official program of these Games. A strong signal in favor of African youth and South-South cooperation.
At the end of this final, the Panda Tournament, which appears to be much more than a sporting competition, asserts itself as a platform for soft diplomacy, dialogue between civilizations and projection towards the future.
