Samiya Karim, the first Trinidad and Tobago athlete to compete at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, suffered a straight-games defeat to Chinese Taipei’s Chih-Yun Cheng in the girls’ singles badminton competition yesterday.

Karim went down 21-1, 21-5 in their 18-minute encounter on Court 3. Fifth-seeded Cheng dominated from the outset, winning 13 consecutive points in the opening game before taking it 21-1. Karim showed some improvement in the second game but was unable to contain her opponent, who secured the match 21-5.

Trinidad and Tobago is represented by four athletes across three sports at the Games, which run from October 31 to November 13, in Senegal. Karim is competing in girls’ singles badminton, Makieve Bellille in the men’s 65kg boxing division and will go into action on November 7, while swimmers Jaden Mills and Breanna Belmar will contest three events each. Mills is entered in the 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke, while Belmar will compete in the 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle. Swimming action begin on November 4.

The delegation includes badminton coach/manager Zeudi Mack and boxing coach Wendell Johku.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

DELEGATION:

BADMINTON

Samiya Karim — Girls’ Singles

BOXING

Makieve Bellille — Men’s 65kg

SWIMMING

Jaden Mills — 50m Butterfly, 50m Freestyle & 50m Backstroke

Breanna Belmar — 50m Breaststroke, 50m Freestyle & 100m Freestyle

COACHES & TEAM OFFICIALS

Zeudi Mack — Badminton Coach/Manager

Wendell Johku — Boxing Coach