Kenya Amateur Wrestling Association (KAWA) has reaffirmed its commitment to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, announcing that scouts and coaches are currently nurturing 20 identified youngsters who will embark on qualifier tournaments starting this November.

Speaking on Monday at KAWA’s offices in Nairobi, Association Secretary General Erick Walucho, alongside treasurer Paul Karani and president Eliud Kariuki, assured that the 20 wrestlers are undergoing rigorous training routines during and after school to ensure their fitness levels meet international standards ahead of the Dakar Games.

“We just had our first national competition last Saturday in Nairobi, featuring 100 wrestlers from seven counties across the country. We had wrestlers as young as eight years old competing, which is a testament to the growing popularity of wrestling,” said Walucho.

He added that the association is targeting 15-year-olds who will be eligible for the Dakar Games, which will feature only cadet wrestlers aged 16-17.

KAWA also revealed that United World Wrestling (UWW) will send youth wrestling coaches and experts for training camps in April, August and December this year as part of a fully funded youth development program aimed at preparing Kenyan wrestlers for the qualifiers set to begin in November.

KAWA’s main event this year will be the second edition of the East Africa Amateur Wrestling Championships, scheduled for August in Nairobi.

However, before that, the association has lined up a series of local tournaments, starting in Mombasa in March, followed by Naivasha later that month and concluding with the April wrestling games in Trans Nzoia County.

The highly anticipated Youth Olympic Games will take place in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13, 2026.
KAWA remains hopeful of securing at least four qualification slots from the 20 youngsters currently under development.