Teenage duo to carry China's flag at Dakar 2026 opening ceremony

DAKAR - Wushu athlete Lin Yilei and swimmer Chang Mohan, both 15, have been named China's flagbearers for the opening ceremony of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the Chinese delegation announced Friday.

Lin won the boys' Group B changquan title at the 2025 Asian Junior Wushu Championships and the boys' youth changquan title at the 2026 World Junior Wushu Championships.

He will compete in the men's changquan combined event in Dakar, where wushu is set to make its official Youth Olympic debut.

Chang claimed silver in the women's 200-meter butterfly at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan in September before winning gold in the same event at the Baku leg of the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup on October 1.

China has sent 66 athletes to compete in 21 sports at the Dakar Youth Olympics, which will run from October 31 to November 13.

Around 2,700 athletes are expected to compete across 25 sports at venues in Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly, with the Games marking the first Olympic sporting event to be held in Africa.