Thailand Sends 27 Athletes to Youth Olympics in Senegal
Thailand will send 27 young athletes to compete in 10 sports at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal this October-November, aiming to gain international experience and develop future world-class competitors.
More than 2,700 young athletes from around the world are preparing to compete at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Dr. Kongsakdi Yodmanee, director-general of the Thailand Sports Authority (TSA), emphasized the significance of this platform, saying Thai athletes will gain invaluable experience in sports and culture from competitors worldwide, paving their way toward senior national teams and becoming world-class heroes for Thailand in the future.
The fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games, Dakar 2026, will take place from October 31 to November 13, 2026, in Dakar, Senegal. The host will feature 25 sports including basketball (3×3), archery, gymnastics, track and field, badminton, baseball, beach handball, beach volleyball, beach wrestling, boxing, breakdancing, rowing, equestrian, fencing, futsal, judo, cycling, seven-a-side rugby, sailing, skateboarding, water sports, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, and wushu, competing for 153 gold medals.
According to Dr. Kongsakdi, the Youth Olympic Games will be a vibrant competition, bringing together young athletes from across the globe competing in Senegal. Beyond Dakar, the main host city, events will also take place in secondary cities including Diamniadio, Dio, and Saly.
Thailand will send 27 youth national team athletes competing in 10 sports: track and field (2), badminton (2), beach handball (10), beach volleyball (2), boxing (2), rowing (2), cycling (1), windsurfing (2), swimming (2), and table tennis (2).
The TSA director-general noted that the Youth Olympic Games holds tremendous importance because Thai athletes will gain invaluable experience, learning both sports and culture from competitors worldwide. These experiences can be carried forward to senior national teams and help produce world-class heroes for Thailand in the future.
The Youth Olympic Games features athletes aged 15-18 and is held every four years, like the senior Olympics. The first edition was held in Singapore in 2010, where Thailand won 4 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze medal. The second was in Nanjing, China in 2014, yielding 3 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze for Thailand. The third was in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2018, producing 4 gold, 5 silver, and 2 bronze. The 2022 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing the fourth games to 2026.
Thai youth athletes have found success at the Youth Olympic Games and graduated to senior national teams, becoming world-class athletes and national heroes, including Atthaya Thitikul (golf), Panipak Wongpattanakit (taekwondo), Pornpawee Chochuwong (badminton), Siripon Kaewduangnuam (sailing), and Dujkham Chujai (weightlifting).
