15-year-old Poon Hao Ran scored 9.360 in both taijiquan and taijishan to win the men's taijiquan combined at Dakar 2026 with 18.720, the first gold medal in Hong Kong, China's Youth Olympic history.

Wushu's Olympic debut has handed Hong Kong, China a milestone it had waited four editions for. On 3 November at the Dakar Expo Center in Diamniadio, 15-year-old Poon Hao Ran won the men's taijiquan combined at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first gold medal in his team's Youth Olympic history.

Poon, who carried his delegation's flag at the opening ceremony, had gone into the final in second place. He scored 9.360 in taijiquan, which left him just behind the United States after the first routine, and then matched it with another 9.360 in taijishan (fan) for a total of 18.720 that moved him to the top. Vietnam's Nguyen Khac Le Hoang took silver and Japan's Kawamura Shiki bronze.

Video: Olympics / YouTube, scenes from the Dakar 2026 wushu finals

Gold despite a cold

Poon told reporters he had struggled with the climate after arriving in Senegal, caught a slight cold and was also managing injuries from training. He said he was satisfied that he stayed consistent under pressure. "Everyone can make mistakes, but I am very happy that I was able to succeed," he told The Standard.

Dakar was Poon's first Youth Olympic Games. In May he won two golds and a silver at the world taijiquan championships, according to The Standard.

Reaction at home

The Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China congratulated Poon and the wushu team. Chef de mission Philip Mok said Poon had been steady through the whole competition and particularly impressive in the final, with smooth execution and a fine balance of power and elegance. Hong Kong's Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, called it a historic result.

Before Dakar, Hong Kong, China had won two silver and six bronze medals at the Youth Olympic Games since 2010. Poon's gold came on the same day the team also collected a silver in table tennis mixed doubles and a bronze in swimming.

Full results of all four wushu finals: Wushu's first Olympic champions.

Sources: Olympic Council of Asia / SF&OC, The Standard, China Daily Hong Kong, HK01, Xinhua.

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