Egyptian wushu athlete Sondos Sonbol achieved a historic milestone on November 3 at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal. She won gold in the women's Changquan combined event, becoming Egypt's first athlete to secure a Youth Olympic medal in wushu. Wushu is a Chinese martial art that combines combat techniques with choreographed movements. Sonbol's achievement marked a significant moment for the sport, which debuted as an official medal sport at the Youth Olympic Games.
Sonbol dominated the women's Changquan combined competition, securing top positions in both disciplines. She scored 9.330 points in Gunshu, a discipline involving staff routines, to finish first. She maintained her lead in Changquan, a traditional northern Chinese martial arts discipline, earning another 9.330 points. Her combined score of 18.660 points placed her ahead of competitors, securing the gold medal.
Sonbol's victory was notable for her consistent performance. She finished ahead of Venezuela's Valeria Frannerys Dudamel Alvarado, who claimed silver with 18.199 points, and India's Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu, who took bronze with 18.039 points. The official competition results confirmed Sonbol's top position. Her achievement was celebrated by the Egyptian sports community and officials.
Egypt's medal tally at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games increased to four, including three gold medals and one bronze. Swimmer Zain Hisham Ali secured two gold medals in the men's 100-metre and 50-metre butterfly events. Judoka Ali El-Remaly won bronze in the men's under-81kg category. Sonbol's gold medal contributed to Egypt's early successes at the Games.
Egypt's Minister of Youth and Sports, Gohar Nabil, congratulated Sonbol on her achievement, praising her performance and the efforts of the national team's coaching staff. He commended the Egyptian Wushu Kung Fu Federation, headed by Sherif Mostafa, for developing young sporting talent. The federation's efforts were recognized as a key factor in Sonbol's success.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, running from October 31 to November 13, mark the first Olympic sporting event hosted in Africa. Egypt participated with a delegation of 45 athletes competing across 19 sports. Sonbol's gold medal added to Egypt's successes, and the Egyptian delegation continued to compete for further medals.
Sonbol's historic win was a milestone for wushu and Egyptian sports. The sport's inclusion in the Youth Olympic Games provided a platform for young athletes to showcase their skills. Sonbol's achievement inspired future generations of Egyptian athletes and demonstrated the country's potential in wushu and other sports.
Key points
- Sondos Sonbol became Egypt's first athlete to win a Youth Olympic medal in wushu.
- Sonbol won gold in the women's Changquan combined event with a combined score of 18.660 points.
- The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games marked the first Olympic sporting event hosted in Africa.
