Day Four: Hannah Shochan Rounds Out Youth Olympic COmpetition

Hannah Shochan brought her Youth Olympic Games campaign to a close in Dakar today, completing her Women’s Singles Group Play Stage with a 2-0 defeat to Estonia’s Romili Vakk.

The 15-year-old Team Ireland athlete was beaten 21-9, 21-11 in her final group encounter, rounding out a three-match campaign at the Youth Olympic Games.  Badminton competition at Dakar 2026 continues with the quarter-finals and semi-finals on 4 November, before the medal matches on 5 November. 

While disappointed not to finish the competition with a win, Shochan was already looking at what she could take from the experience as she continues her development.

“Unfortunately, the match didn’t go the way I wanted. I would have liked to end on a good note, but I tried, and it just wasn’t enough. I’m going to try to look at the positives from this tournament to become a better person and better player.”  

For Shochan, a highlight of the week was her performance a day earlier against New Zealand’s Amy Wang, a match she felt demonstrated the level she is capable of producing against strong international opposition.

“I think my favourite performance was yesterday’s match against Amy Wang from New Zealand. I think it was one of the best matches I have ever played, and I feel like that’s the level I would have liked to bring to all my matches.

“There were some good rallies in every match, but I have to bring that level not just to some rallies, but to all of them. And that’s the next level. It’s not easy as you get older, your opponents get stronger as well and you have to work and get stronger as well.”  

The Youth Olympic Games represented another important step in Shochan’s development, having competed at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Skopje in 2025. That experience helped fuel her ambition to qualify for Dakar when the opportunity to compete in the Women’s Singles arose.

“Last year when I went to EYOF I loved the experience so much, and when I heard there was a chance of a women’s singles in the Youth Olympics I was really motivated. I wanted to make sure that I could come and I could be the one to play, and I’m proud of myself for doing that, but it would have been nice to win one match.

“I know my opponents are really good and a high standard, but I should be at that level too.”  

The South Dublin Badminton Club player is the youngest member of Team Ireland in Dakar and is currently a Transition Year student. Her final match concludes Team Ireland’s badminton involvement at the Games.  

Coastal Rowing

With the competitive Coastal Rowing Beach Sprints programme complete, the rowers took part today in a mixed relay designed to bring athletes from different nations together. 

Kate Dunne had earlier reached the Last 16 of the Women’s Solo Beach Sprints in a competition which marked the first inclusion of coastal rowing at an IOC event. 

Boxing

Team Ireland’s focus now turns to boxing, with Kristian Jubani and coach Eoin Pluck arriving in Dakar tonight ahead of the Men’s 50kg competition. Jubani’s preliminary competition is scheduled to begin on 8 November, with confirmation of the draw to follow. 

The 17-year-old Crumlin Boxing Club athlete comes into Dakar following a silver-medal performance at the European U19 Championships.

Results – Tuesday 3 November

Badminton, Women’s Singles Group Play Stage – Hannah Shochan (IRL) V Romili Vakk (Estonia), Win for Estonia 2-0 (21-9, 21-11).

Schedule Day 9 – Sunday 8 November

TIME TBC – Boxing, Men’s 50k Preliminaries – Kristian Jubani V TBC