Sara Coni delivered Italy’s first medal of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on the opening day of competition at the Dakar Expo Center, claiming a bronze medal in the women’s -44 kg judo category.
Dakar Tatami Run Opens Italian Medal Count
The 17-year-old Italian judoka opened her tournament account by defeating Mauritania’s Coumba Houssein Diop by ippon in just 53 seconds. Benefiting from a bye in the quarterfinal round, Coni advanced directly to the semifinal stage. There, she encountered Turkey’s Sema Yuksel, suffering a defeat by ippon that relegated her to the bronze-medal match.
In the final of consolation, Coni rebounded decisively against Greece’s Io Eirini Papatheodorou. She secured another ippon victory to lock down the third step of the podium in Senegal. Turkish competitor Sema Yuksel ultimately claimed the gold medal in the -44 kg division, dominating the bracket where Coni carved out her podium finish.
Reflecting on a Youth Olympic Debut
Competing under the Italian banner after representing Great Britain until the previous season, Coni expressed astonishment at her swift ascent on the international stage.
I still can’t believe it, I’m very emotional and very happy,
Coni said. I am very happy to have won this bronze and to be the first Italian medal at Dakar 2026. I dedicate it to my family, my team, and everyone who has always helped me. It was a beautiful, unforgettable experience; I met so many other athletes from other sports. This medal made this experience even more incredible.
Broader Medal Decisions on the Mat
The opening judo sessions at the Dakar Expo Center also crowned champions in two men’s weight categories during the same match window. Azerbaijan’s Ibrahim Talibov seized the gold medal in the -55 kg division. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Khazar Heydarov captured the title in the -66 kg category.
The Dakar 2026 Games mark the fourth summer edition of the under-18 multi-sport event. This year’s gathering represents the first time the Youth Olympic Games have been hosted on the African continent, returning to the summer version after an eight-year hiatus driven by pandemic-related postponements.
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