The table tennis competition at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, concluded with Japan and Chinese Taipei claiming the individual singles titles.
In the men’s singles final, Japanese top seed Ryuusei Kawakami defeated the number two seed, Colombia’s Emanuel Otalvaro. According to event reporting, the match ended 4-2, with set scores of 15-13, 11-7, 13-11, 6-11, 2-11, 11-6, lasting 46 minutes. The bronze medal match saw South Korea’s Lee Seungsoo, seeded third, overcome Hong Kong’s Li Ki Ho in a 49-minute contest that finished 4-2 (11-8, 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 15-17, 15-13).
Italian campaign ends in round of 16
Italy’s participation in the individual tournament concluded earlier in the week. Francesco Trevisan, the sole Italian representative, was eliminated during the round of 16. Trevisan fell to Puerto Rico’s Steven Moreno in a 4-2 defeat. The match was characterized by high parity, with set scores of 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 4-11, 11-9, 11-8. Moreno’s ability to secure points in the closing moments of the final sets ultimately proved decisive in preventing the Italian from advancing to the quarterfinals.
Chen Minhsin claims women singles title
The women’s singles final featured a victory for Chinese Taipei’s Chen Minhsin, the number five seed. She defeated Singapore’s Loy Ming Ying, the tenth seed, with a 4-2 scoreline (5-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-13, 11-7, 12-10) in 44 minutes. The bronze medal match required a full seven sets, as Hong Kong’s Su Tsz Tung overcame Japan’s top-seeded Miku Matsushima 4-3 (9-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8) after one hour of play.
Beyond the singles competition, the mixed doubles event saw Japan secure another gold medal. The pairing of Ryuusei Kawakami and Miku Matsushima defeated Hong Kong’s Li Ki Ho and Su Tsz Tung in the final, winning three sets to one. The bronze medal in the mixed doubles category went to the Chinese Taipei duo of Lin Chin-Ting and Chen Minhsin, who completed a comeback victory against Thailand in the fifth set.
Quarterfinal matches begin on Wednesday
The Youth Olympic table tennis program in Dakar is moving toward its final phases. With the conclusion of the mixed doubles and the definition of the singles medalists, attention shifts to the remaining individual bracket matches. The tournament was scheduled to continue on Wednesday, November 4, with eight matches slated for the quarterfinals to determine the final contenders for the remaining top positions.
With no Italian athletes remaining in the individual brackets, the focus for the final days of the tournament remains on the top-seeded players from Asia and other continental regions who advanced past the opening rounds.
