DAKAR, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- China claimed one gold and one silver medal as the athletics competition got underway at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Sunday, with Zhang Keyi winning the women's 100m hurdles and Zhang Hangyu taking silver in the men's 100m.

Zhang Keyi clocked a personal best of 13.17 seconds to secure gold. The 17-year-old had already shown strong form in the semifinals, where she ran a season's best of 13.45 seconds to win her heat.

Although Zhang was slightly slow out of the blocks in the final, she quickly made up ground and took the lead, crossing the finish line comfortably ahead of her rivals. France's Anna Peeters took silver, 0.4 seconds behind, while India's Shourya Avinash Ambure claimed bronze.

"This was my last race in the youth hurdles category. If I hadn't won the title, I might have regretted it for the rest of my life," Zhang said. "I have always believed that I had the ability to do it, and today I finally proved it."

Zhang has drawn comparisons with fellow Chinese hurdler Wu Yanni. She said she was honored by the comparison but wanted to forge her own identity.

"I feel very honored to be compared with Sister Wu and to be mentioned alongside an athlete of her level," she said. "But I just want to be myself. I am Zhang Keyi."

In the men's 100m final, Nigeria's Gift Bright took gold in 10.28 seconds, while China's Zhang Hangyu finished second in 10.57 seconds. Poland's Szymon Dolega claimed bronze.

For the 16-year-old Zhang, the silver medal marked a memorable debut on the international stage.

"Wearing the national team uniform and standing on the podium has always been my dream," he said. "Although I won silver this time, it is still a great source of motivation for me."

Nigeria also won the women's 100m title, with Rosemary Nwankwo crossing the line in 11.16 seconds.

Kenya collected two gold medals on Sunday, with Abigael Kosgei winning the women's 2,000m steeplechase and Enock Tuitoek claiming the men's 3,000m title.

Elsewhere, Ecuador's Patry Ivan Valdez Arroyo won the men's hammer throw, Japan's Koki Hasebe took gold in the men's long jump, and Spain's Gift Okunrobo claimed the women's triple jump title. France's Julie Bourgis topped the women's pole vault, while Cyprus' Marina Hadjicosta won the women's discus throw.

Related Story

• China's Sheng Lihao wins 2nd Paris Olympic gold with men's 10m air rifle victory(08-29 19:31)
• Olympics | Day 13: Chinese diver defends Olympic title, weightlifting debutant claims gold(08-09 16:50)
• Olympics | Chinese weightlifters Hou, Li retain gold at Paris 2024(08-08 14:26)
• Olympics | Day 12: Chinese weightlifters retain Olympic golds, artistic swimming team make history(08-08 14:23)
• Olympics | Chinese diver Quan defends women's 10m platform title at Paris Games(08-07 22:37)