With wushu set to debut as a medal sport at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the Kenya Kungfu Wushu Federation says the milestone could open new doors for a sport now taught in 26 Kenyan public schools.

Wushu's first appearance as an official medal sport at the Youth Olympic Games is being watched closely well beyond the competition venue in Dakar. In Kenya, the national federation sees the debut as a chance to accelerate a programme that has been building quietly for more than two decades, China Daily reported on 29 October.

From one club to 26 schools

The Kenya Kungfu Wushu Federation grew out of a single club founded in Kiambu County in 2000. According to its founder and president, Ngaruiya Njonge, it now counts 12 affiliated clubs and runs programmes in 26 public schools, reaching roughly 6,000 learners.

Njonge said youth interest keeps rising and that he hopes the Olympic debut in Dakar will bring more development opportunities for the sport at home. "We are growing, and many children are joining," he told China Daily.

First national competition

The federation reached another milestone in July, when Kenya staged its first national wushu competition in Nairobi. The event brought together students from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

Dakar 2026

The fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games run from 31 October to 13 November in Senegal, the first Olympic event held on African soil. The wushu taolu competition takes place from 1 to 3 November at the Dakar Expo Center, with around 48 athletes expected. China Daily, citing the organisers, put the field at athletes from 47 countries and regions, competing in four combined changquan and taijiquan events.

For a full guide to the format, see our earlier report: Dakar 2026 Wushu Taolu Explained.

Photo: IWUF

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