Ghanaian Umpire Officiates Youth Olympic Gold Final
Millicent Ankude, Ghana's first young International Umpire, was chosen to officiate the mixed doubles gold medal match at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Olympics
Ghanaian table tennis official Millicent Ankude officiated the mixed doubles gold medal final at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, on November 3, 2026. The final pitted Japan's Ryuusei Kawakami and Miku Matsushima against Hong Kong, China's Li Ki Ho and Su Tsz Tung.
Why it matters
Ankude's selection highlights the growth of officiating opportunities for young African umpires in international table tennis. Her role at the Youth Olympic Games reflects a pathway from competitive play to elite officiating.
Ankude was one of five young African umpires selected through the ITTF Young Umpires Project for Dakar 2026. The available extraction does not include match results or statistics from the final.
The players
Millicent Ankude
Ghanaian international table tennis official and Ghana's first young International Umpire, who previously competed for Ghana at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)
The international governing body for table tennis, which runs the Young Umpires Project that selected Ankude for Dakar 2026.
The details
Ankude earned her White Badge earlier in 2026 and previously represented Ghana as a player at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. She was selected through the International Table Tennis Federation's Young Umpires Project, progressing from competitor to official.
Timeline
Birmingham 2022: Ankude competes for Ghana at the Commonwealth Games.
Earlier in 2026: Ankude earns her White Badge.
November 3, 2026: Ankude officiates the mixed doubles gold medal final at Dakar Expo Centre.
Season Trajectory
Ankude's appointment follows the ITTF Young Umpires Project, which selected five young African umpires for Dakar 2026. It signals a development pipeline that moves officials from national recognition to Olympic-level assignments.
The assignment shows that a player-turned-official can reach the Youth Olympic Games within a short span. Readers following African table tennis should watch for further ITTF Young Umpires Project selections.
The takeaway
Ankude's rise from Commonwealth Games competitor to Youth Olympic umpire shows how officiating pathways can be built through structured programs. Aspiring officials can look to the ITTF Young Umpires Project as a model for entering international officiating.
Further reading
For more on the global competition behind this assignment, see our Olympics coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ghanamma.
