Babaicenko Wins Judo Gold at Dakar Youth Games
Lithuania's Tajus Babaicenko took the men's under-100kg judo title at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Olympics
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Tajus Babaicenko of Lithuania defeated Uzbekistan's Jurabek Eshpulatov to win the men's under-100kg judo gold at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Brazil's Clarisse Vallim claimed women's under-78kg gold, while Burundi's Don de Dieu Igiraneza took men's under-100kg bronze.
Why it matters
The Games are the first Olympic sporting event hosted on African soil, drawing 2,655 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees. A six-member Refugee Olympic Team is making its Youth Olympic debut, adding to the event's significance.
Babaicenko secured the win with a ne-waza finish, landing it with 20 seconds left on the clock. Igiraneza overcame a deficit to beat Tajikistan's Asmar Sharif for bronze.
The players
Tajus Babaicenko
Lithuanian judoka who won the men's under-100kg gold medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Clarisse Vallim
Brazilian judoka who won the women's under-78kg gold medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Don de Dieu Igiraneza
Burundian judoka who earned the men's under-100kg bronze medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
The details
Babaicenko's final win came via ne-waza with 20 seconds remaining, and Igiraneza rallied from behind to take bronze over Asmar Sharif. The judo medallists celebrated their achievements on Tuesday, November 3.
Timeline
October 31: Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games open in Senegal.
November 3: Judo medallists celebrate their results.
November 13: The Games conclude.
Later in November: Babaicenko competes at the Junior World Championships in Uzbekistan.
Olympics Context
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games mark the first Olympic sporting event hosted on African soil, extending a movement that has historically centered its major events in Europe, North America, and East Asia. The Games' 204 participating National Olympic Committees underscore the breadth of global reach the Olympic format now commands.
Fans following the Youth Olympics can track the remaining competition through November 13, when the Dakar Games conclude. Babaicenko's next appearance at the Junior World Championships in Uzbekistan gives viewers another chance to follow the Lithuanian judoka.
The takeaway
The Dakar 2026 Games show the Olympic movement reaching new regions, with young athletes from 204 nations competing on African soil. Watching emerging judo talent like Babaicenko offers a preview of athletes who may define future Olympic cycles.
What happens next
Tajus Babaicenko competes at the Junior World Championships in Uzbekistan later in November 2026, and the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games conclude on November 13, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the Olympics section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TVC News Nigeria.
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