In brief
Marieme Diallo, a 16‑year‑old table‑tennis player from Senegal, completed a training stint in Changsha, China, improving her consistency and confidence. The camps, part of the China‑Africa Year of People‑to‑People Exchanges, also hosted athletes from Tunisia and other African nations in disciplines like wushu and taijiquan. These intensive programs aim to prepare the youth for the historic Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, boosting national pride and sporting progress.
Dakar, Senegal, Oct. 30 – 16‑year‑old table‑tennis player Marieme Diallo returned from a Chinese training camp just ahead of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in her homeland.
“We can keep the ball in play much longer than usual because they taught us the proper techniques,” Diallo told Xinhua, noting her improved consistency.
Marie Fara Mendy, coach with the Senegalese Table Tennis Federation, also travelled to China. She praised the rigor, discipline and quality of the facilities she saw.
“What impressed me most was the rigor, discipline and sports facilities. I was also impressed by the attention paid to technical details, the volume of ball practice and the role played by sparring partners,” Mendy said, adding that the Chinese coaches were patient and kind despite language barriers.
According to Mendy, the two‑month camp in Changsha focused on technical gains – better serves, stronger returns, steadier backhand and sharper footwork – and built mental toughness, allowing athletes to endure training sessions lasting four to five hours.
This was the second consecutive year that Senegal’s youth table‑tennis players have trained in China as part of the China‑Africa Year of People‑to‑People Exchanges program.
The camps also hosted athletes from Tunisia and other African nations, working in wushu, changquan and taijiquan, and holding friendly matches with local Chinese peers.
These intensive preparations are aimed at equipping the young competitors for Dakar’s inaugural Youth Olympic Games, where they hope to bring pride and showcase progress in their sports.
Returning home highly motivated, Diallo and her teammates are ready to represent Senegal and to highlight the strides made by African athletes on a global stage.
