SANGAY SECURES SEVENTH PLACE IN MEN'S -55KG JUDO AT DAKAR 2026
Bhutanese judoka Sangay Thinley delivered a commendable performance at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, securing seventh place in the men’s -55kg judo competition on 1 November 2026, following a campaign that featured both a victory and a challenging encounter against international opposition.
Sangay began his competition on a positive note, facing Moussa Koita of Mali in his opening contest. Demonstrating confidence and determination on the tatami, the young Bhutanese judoka secured an impressive victory by Ippon in just 51 seconds, earning 100 points and advancing to the next stage of the competition.
In his subsequent contest, Sangay faced Elisha Zimba of Zambia. Despite his efforts, the contest went in favour of the Zambian judoka, who secured victory by Ippon. The encounter provided Sangay with valuable experience against international opposition and tested his ability to compete at the highest level of youth judo.
Following his contests, Sangay finished seventh overall in the men’s -55kg category, placing him among the top eight judokas in the competition. The category was eventually won by Ibrahim Talibov of Azerbaijan, while Jona Zvorc of Croatia secured silver. Tugskhuslen Tungalag of Mongolia and Elisha Zimba of Zambia claimed the bronze medals.
At just 15 years old, Sangay’s performance in Dakar marks another important milestone in his developing sporting career. Having previously represented Bhutan at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain in 2025 in the men’s -50kg category, his participation in Dakar further strengthens his international competitive experience.
The opportunity to compete at the Youth Olympic Games has provided Sangay with valuable exposure to different international competitors and the demands of high-level competition. His opening victory demonstrates his ability to compete and succeed on the international stage, while the experience gained from subsequent contests will contribute to his continued development as a judoka.
The Bhutan Olympic Committee congratulates Sangay on his seventh-place finish and commends his determination in representing Bhutan at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The experience gained will serve as an important foundation as he continues working towards his ambitions in international judo.
His journey continues, carrying the experience of Dakar and the pride of representing Bhutan.
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