Chinese table tennis competitors Li Hechen and Yao Ruixuan opened their 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games singles campaigns with two group-stage victories each on November 1 in Diamniadio, Senegal, shortly before bowing out of the mixed doubles quarterfinals against Japanese opposition.
Singles Openers and Opening Day Pressures in Diamniadio
The 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games introduced strict age eligibility rules, restricting the table tennis field to athletes born on or after January 1, 2009. That cutoff altered national lineups across the sport, excluding older teenagers who might otherwise have contended for medals. The overall table tennis competition features three events—men’s singles, women’s singles, and mixed doubles—with 32 players in each singles draw and 23 mixed doubles pairs representing 41 different National Olympic Committees.
For 17-year-old Li Hechen, the opening rounds in Senegal brought immediate competition nerves. Seeded sixth in the men’s singles draw, the Liaoning left-hander needed just 14 minutes in his morning match to dispatch Germany’s Jonas Lindelöf by a 3-0 margin with set scores of 11:3, 11:6, and 11:4, under the guidance of coach Wu Hao. In the afternoon session against Turkey’s Kuzey Gündüz, Li took the opening game 11:4 before surrendering the second 11:9, but he settled his nerves to win the next two games and seal a 3-1 victory.
The Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 are officially open! 👏#Olympics #YouthOlympics #Dakar2026 #OpeningCeremony @jojdakar2026 pic.twitter.com/t4U1vomW02
When I entered the arena and felt the atmosphere on site, I suddenly became nervous,
Li told Xinhuanet, adding: I hope to gradually overcome this emotion through match after match.
Reflecting on his first trip to Africa and his first multi-sport opening ceremony, Li noted that the venue atmosphere felt deeply impressive with large crowds. Alongside training sessions with Thai players and exchanging friendly conversations with various international athletes, he finished the day sharing the top spot in his singles group.
Yao Ruixuan Navigates the Singles Field and Pin Badge Exchanges
In the women’s singles bracket, third-seeded Yao Ruixuan faced a demanding draw where she carried sole responsibility for her section. The Hebei right-handed attacker swept Venezuela’s Dakota Ferrer and subsequently Algeria’s Melissa Belabed in straight games under coach Zheng Zhangong’s instruction. Despite starting with two 3-0 wins, Yao acknowledged she had not yet reached her ideal competitive gear and hoped to unleash her full level as the tournament progressed.
Because I am the only person competing, I have to ‘guard the entire section,’
Yao told Xinhuanet.
Mixed Doubles Quarterfinal Exit Against Japanese Opponents
The day concluded with a high-intensity mixed doubles quarterfinal clash as Li Hechen and Yao Ruixuan faced Japan’s Ryusei Kawakami and Miwa Tomokamoto. The Japanese pairing—featuring 13-born Miwa Tomokamoto, who serves as the youngest competitor in the field and was selected as a Japanese delegation flag bearer—eliminated the Chinese duo in a 39-minute battle.
The match score finished 3-1 for the Japanese pair, with set scores breaking down as 3-11, 15-13, 13-15, and 8-11.
Commentators noted that the defeat highlighted growing challenges for youth squads against opponents who already boast regular experience on senior international circuits. With the mixed doubles bracket behind them, both players turn their focus back to group-stage singles matches.