Japan's Miku Matsushima and Ryuusei Kawakami have secured Youth Olympic Games gold in table tennis mixed doubles after overcoming Hong Kong's Su Tsz Tung and Li Ki Ho in a competitive final at the Dakar Expo Centre on Tuesday, 3 November.
The Japanese pair delivered a strong performance to win 3-1, adding another gold medal to Japan's campaign at the first Youth Olympic Games hosted on African soil.
Despite entering the tournament as the eighth seeds in mixed doubles, Matsushima and Kawakami demonstrated impressive composure to overcome their opponents and secure the title.
Kawakami admitted that the atmosphere brought additional pressure but explained that it also helped him concentrate and improve his performance.
Matsushima also highlighted the importance of maintaining belief after making mistakes during the contest, stressing their determination to fight back.
Earlier in the competition, Taiwan's Lin ChinTing and Chen MinHsin claimed bronze after edging Thailand's Kulapassr Vijitviriyagul and Thitiphat Preechayan 3-2 in a closely contested encounter.
The Taiwanese pair recovered from behind before securing the deciding game 11-9.
Meanwhile, both Japanese gold medallists progressed to the men's and women's singles quarter-finals, strengthening their chances of adding individual honours to their mixed doubles success.
Matsushima defeated Thailand's Vijitviriyagul 4-2 after recovering from an early setback, while Kawakami secured a convincing 4-0 victory over Egypt's Abdelmalk Elsayed.
The men's and women's singles quarter-finals continue on Wednesday as the table tennis competition progresses at Dakar 2026.
Dakar 2026 Table Tennis Mixed Doubles Medal Results
🥇 Japan – Miku Matsushima and Ryuusei Kawakami
🥈 Hong Kong – Su Tsz Tung and Li Ki Ho
🥉 Chinese Taipei – Lin ChinTing and Chen MinHsin
Photo: Remi Vallat/OIS/IOC
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