Saly:Bahrain The Kingdom of Bahrain has concluded its participation in the fourth edition of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games held in Senegal. Bahraini athletes competed in swimming, fencing, and beach wrestling events, showcasing their skills on the international stage.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the participation concluded on Sunday with fencer Ritej Araoud and beach wrestler Ali Mohammed Zaman representing Bahrain in their respective events. Araoud advanced to the round of 16 in the women's individual foil competition after securing two victories in the preliminary round. Meanwhile, Zaman participated in three beach wrestling bouts, gaining critical experience at the Olympic level.
Araoud's participation saw her compete in Group Two, where she claimed victories over New Zealand's Bowie Wang and Moldova's Sanda Dubolari. However, she faced defeats against competitors from Poland, Russia, and Malaysia. In the round of 16, Araoud encountered Malaysia's Nur Qalesha Mohd Radzuan again but was unable to complete the bout due to a second yellow card, resulting in a 15-9 defeat.
In the men's 90kg beach wrestling event on the beaches of Saly, Senegal, Zaman faced challengers from American Samoa, Senegal, and Vietnam. The event required athletes to adapt to the sandy surface and employ techniques distinct from traditional wrestling styles to score points and maintain balance.
The participation of Bahrain in the Youth Olympic Games provided valuable exposure and experience for its young athletes. The country's swimmers, Ali Hussain and Sara Alqarooni, had earlier completed their events, both achieving new personal bests. Bahrain's involvement in the Games is seen as an opportunity for its athletes to develop further and prepare for future international competitions.