Antigua and Barbuda Athletes Depart Today for Youth Olympic Games in Senegal

A cohort of Antigua and Barbuda’s most promising teenage athletes is scheduled to depart their home island on Wednesday, 28 October, bound for Dakar, Senegal, to take part in the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games — a landmark edition that marks the very first time the global youth multi-sport event is hosted on the African continent. The nation’s elite 15 to 18-year-old sporting talents will step onto the international competitive stage across the official competition window running from 31 October through 13 November.
Heading the national delegation is Tyra Fenton, a seasoned world U20 championship finalist who will carry the national flag during the opening ceremony and stands out as a top medal contender in the women’s 200-metre sprint scheduled for 10 November. Joining her on the track and field squad is Zonique Charles, a CARIFTA Games bronze medallist, who will vie for top honours in the women’s 500g javelin throw on 9 November. Fast-rising table tennis prodigy Stuti Kashyap will represent the country in the women’s singles draw, with preliminary rounds kicking off on 1 November. Rounding out the athlete roster are two young swimmers, Keziah Joseph competing in women’s events and Espriit Joseph competing in men’s events, both poised to make their Youth Olympic debuts as the aquatics competition unfolds between 1 and 6 November. All selected athletes rank among the top performers across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, and travel to Dakar determined to cement their nation’s reputation on the global youth sporting map.
The full Antigua and Barbuda mission is overseen by designated Chef de Mission Karen Joseph, with Eric Henry appointed to the critical role of Athlete Welfare Officer. Specialist coaching and management teams are assigned across each sport: Sonia Williams and Aswald Baptiste will lead track and field operations, national swimming head coach Nelson Molino Fojo will supervise the aquatics squad, and Aleena Edwards, a seasoned official from Trinidad and Tobago, will manage the table tennis competitor. On-site medical support for the entire delegation will be delivered by Dr. Hon. Philmore Benjamin. Additional senior representatives from the Antigua and Barbuda National Olympic Committee, including President Hon. E. P. Chet Greene and Secretary General Cliff Williams, will also travel to Dakar to support the team.
Local sportswear brand PEAK Athletics has stepped forward as the official apparel sponsor for the national Youth Olympic delegation, outfitting all athletes and mission staff with custom national team kits for the duration of the games.
“On behalf of the Antigua and Barbuda Olympic Association, I extend my warmest congratulations to every one of our young athletes making the journey to Dakar,” shared NOC Secretary General Cliff Williams. “We are immensely proud of the years of relentless hard work, discipline, and dedication that have brought each of them to this global stage. They carry the hopes and pride of our entire nation, and we have full confidence they will represent Antigua and Barbuda with unwavering excellence, courage, and exemplary sportsmanship. Every citizen at home is cheering them on, every step of the way.”
Founded to nurture the next generation of global sporting talent, the Summer Youth Olympic Games bring together the world’s top 15 to 18-year-old athletes not only for elite level competition, but also for a robust schedule of cross-cultural exchange and educational programming designed to foster long-term camaraderie and personal growth. The entire Antigua and Barbuda sporting community extends its full support and best wishes to the national delegation for a successful, memorable campaign in Dakar.