[YOG Dakar-2026] Baseball 5, Wushu, BabmInton…: a closer look at these little-known sports in Senegal

The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) offer an opportunity to learn more about Baseball5, wushu, baminton, and field hockey—disciplines that are still relatively unfamiliar to the general public in Senegal. Seneweb takes a look at their history, rules, techniques, and unique characteristics.

In Senegal, football, wrestling, and basketball capture much of the attention of sports fans. But behind these popular disciplines lies a much broader sporting world. With the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games approaching, scheduled from October 31 to November 13, some sports remain largely unknown to the Senegalese public, notably Baseball 5, Badminton, Field Hockey, and Wushu. These sports are distinguished by their physical demands, specific rules, and the diverse skills they require. Seneweb takes a closer look at these Youth Olympic Games competition sports.

Wushu: the Chinese martial art between mastery and spectacle

Wushu, often associated with kung fu, is a Chinese martial art that combines technical mastery, power, flexibility, and discipline. In competition, it is divided into two main forms: taolu , based on the execution of codified sequences, and sanda , which is based on sport combat.

In taolu competitions, athletes perform movements combining attacks, parries, jumps, balances, and footwork. Some performances are done barehanded, others with traditional weapons. The precision of the movements, fluidity, coordination, and difficulty of the routines all contribute to the score awarded by the judges.

Styles can be very dynamic and acrobatic, like Changquan, or favor slower, more fluid movements, like Taijiquan. Depending on the category, performances can last from a few dozen seconds to several minutes.

Sanda, on the other hand, emphasizes direct opposition between two fighters, respecting the rules and with appropriate protective equipment.

Although not an official event at the Summer Olympics, Wushu is featured in several international competitions, including the World Championships organized by the International Wushu Federation and the Asian Games. Its inclusion in the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games program provides an additional opportunity to introduce this discipline to a new audience.

Baseball 5: a form without bat or glove

Without bats or gloves, Baseball 5 relies on speed, reflexes, and agility. Inspired by baseball and softball, this discipline is played with a simple rubber ball that players hit by hand.

The principle remains the same as baseball. The offensive team must get the ball into the field and run between the bases to score runs, while the opposing team tries to get them out. The game relies on quick exchanges, good anticipation of ball trajectories, and effective coordination between teammates.

One of Baseball5's main advantages is its accessibility. Requiring neither heavy equipment nor complex setup, it can be played on various types of surfaces. This format facilitates its growth and can attract new players, especially young people.

Badminton: When the shuttlecock becomes a precision weapon

Despite its apparent simplicity, badminton is a particularly demanding sport. It pits two players against each other in singles or two teams of two in doubles, on either side of a net. Using a lightweight racket, the participants try to send the shuttlecock into the opponent's court without the latter being able to return it properly.

The sport has its modern origins in shuttlecock games, notably poona, played in India by British officers. Upon their return to England, some of them are said to have contributed to its spread among high society. The name badminton is associated with Badminton House, the residence of the Duke of Beaufort in Gloucestershire. The first written rules were drawn up in 1877 by the Bath Badminton Club, before the creation of the English federation in 1893 and the organization of the first English championships in 1899.

On the court, badminton demands much more than precision. Explosive movements, changes of direction, anticipation, and endurance are essential to gaining the upper hand. Every rally becomes a tactical duel where speed of execution can make all the difference.

Badminton, an Olympic sport since the 1992 Barcelona Games, is also featured in the Youth Olympic Games. In Dakar, the events are scheduled to take place from November 1st to 5th, 2026 at the Dakar Arena.

Field hockey: speed, strategy and team spirit

Less popular than football, field hockey is nevertheless a spectacular team sport. Two teams of eleven players, including the goalkeeper, compete on a synthetic turf field with one objective: to score more goals than the opponent using a stick and a hard ball.

Players must master their skills, string passes together, and move quickly to create opportunities. The sport demands individual skill, good physical condition, and constant team coordination.

A match consists of four fifteen-minute periods, for a total of sixty minutes of play. Substitutions can be made throughout the game, which encourages a fast pace. Goals are only valid when the shot is taken from the "D"-shaped shooting zone located in front of the opposing goal.

While its origins can be traced back to various ancient forms of ball games, modern hockey developed in England during the 19th century. It made its Olympic debut in 1908 for men and then in 1980 for women. At the Youth Olympic Games, a five-player version, 5-a-side hockey, allows for faster and more dynamic matches.