Team Kenya’s Day Three action at the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 saw judoka Rael Kuloba return to the tatami at the Dakar Expo Centre for her repechage contest.
Following her Round of 16 defeat to Viktoria Grigoryan, Kuloba was given another opportunity to progress as she faced Côte d’Ivoire’s Boubacar Ousamane in the second round of the repechage.
In a closely contested encounter, the Kenyan judoka demonstrated resilience and determination, taking a 1–0 lead. However, despite her spirited performance, Kuloba was unable to secure victory, bringing her Youth Olympic Games campaign to an end.
Despite the defeat, Kuloba described the experience as an important learning opportunity, noting that competing in the new -52kg weight category had provided valuable lessons for her development.
She expressed her determination to return home and work on improving her pace, timing and technical skills as she prepares for future competitions.
Her coach, Johnson Kirimo, praised her performance, acknowledging the effort and progress she had demonstrated despite the defeat. He noted that the experience would provide an important foundation for her continued development in the new weight category.
