Inner Mongolia Secures 2 Gold, 2 Bronze at 2026 National Youth Judo Championships

Inner Mongolia’s judo team delivered a strong performance at the 2026 National Youth Judo Championships, capturing two gold medals, two bronze medals, and additional accolades in the U18 and U20 age divisions held in Xiaogan, Hubei Province.

The competition, officially known as the 2026 “Nine Ye·Ru Yuan” Cup National Judo Championships (U18, U20 divisions) and the second leg of the National Judo Points Series, took place from April 9 to April 14, 2026, at the Xiaogan Olympic Sports Center. Organized by the General Administration of Sport of China’s Weightlifting, Wrestling and Judo Management Center and the Chinese Judo Association, the event brought together over 700 athletes from 32 delegations across provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, industry sports associations, and university teams.

According to verified results from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Sports Bureau, Inner Mongolia fielded 44 athletes who competed in all 14 weight classes of the U18 division, the mixed team event, and nine weight classes in the U20 division along with its mixed team competition.

After nine days of competition, Inner Mongolia’s athletes earned two gold medals, two bronze medals, three fifth-place finishes, five seventh-place finishes, and the Sports Ethics and Style Award.

The gold medalists were identified as follows:

• Pen De’er won the U18 men’s 73 kg category and was similarly awarded the U18 Best Technique Prize.
• Ji Ri Gala Sai Han claimed victory in the U20 men’s 90 kg division.

The bronze medalists were:

• Xu Ri Gan secured third place in the U18 men’s 73 kg category.
• Yi De Er Zha Na finished third in the U20 men’s over 100 kg division.

The event marked the return of the national youth judo championship to Hubei Province for the first time since 2013, when it was last held in Wuhan. Over the course of the tournament, Hubei’s team finished with one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal overall.

In the men’s U20 division, Hubei earned one gold, one bronze, and one fifth-place finish. The men’s U18 team brought home one silver, two fifth-place finishes, and one seventh-place result. The women’s U20 squad recorded one fifth-place finish.

Hubei’s standout performer was Sun Jia Xu, who opened the competition by winning the men’s U20 60 kg event, securing the host province’s first gold medal of the tournament.

The championships served as both a competitive platform and a developmental opportunity, with organizers noting its role in promoting youth judo participation, boosting local engagement in Xiaogan, and strengthening the talent pipeline for future national and international representation.

As of the conclusion of the event on April 14, 2026, no further competition dates for the National Youth Judo Championships have been officially announced by the governing bodies. Fans and followers of youth judo in China are advised to consult the Chinese Judo Association or the General Administration of Sport of China for updates on upcoming events and team selections.

For continued coverage of national and international judo competitions, including athlete profiles, tournament results, and sport-specific analysis, readers are encouraged to visit trusted sports news platforms that provide verified, timely updates on martial arts events worldwide.