China capped off a successful individual competition at the 2024 Judo Asian Championships with two gold medals, as Wu Hongtao and Niu Xinran each claimed top honors in their respective weight classes. The tournament, held in Hong Kong from May 16 to 19, concluded with China securing a total of five medals — two gold, one silver, and two bronze — affirming its status as a rising force in Asian judo ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Wu Hongtao, competing in the men’s 73-kilogram division, defeated Japan’s Soichi Hashimoto in the final with a decisive ippon via seoi-nage (shoulder throw) in the golden score period. The victory marked Wu’s first senior Asian Championships gold, building on his bronze medal from the 2022 edition in Nur-Sultan. Hashimoto, a 2021 World Championships silver medalist, had entered the final as the favorite after earlier wins over Mongolia’s Telman Bayar and South Korea’s An Chang-rim.
“I stayed focused on my game plan — controlling the grip, waiting for the opening,” Wu said in a post-match interview with China Central Television. “Hashimoto is incredibly tough, but I trusted my preparation and my team’s guidance. This gold means a lot, not just for me, but for the entire squad as we build toward Los Angeles 2028.”
In the women’s 57-kilogram category, Niu Xinran overturned a previous loss to South Korea’s Huh Mi-mi by winning 10-0 via waza-ari and two yuko scores. Niu had lost to Huh in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, making this victory a significant personal redemption. Her path to gold included wins over Kazakhstan’s Galiya Tinbayeva and Chinese Taipei’s Lien Chen-ling, showcasing her improved ne-waza (ground technique) and tactical patience.
“That loss in Hangzhou stayed with me,” Niu admitted. “I studied the footage, worked on my transitions, and came in with a clearer mindset. Today, I was able to impose my rhythm early and never let her settle. Winning here feels like a statement.”
China’s other medalists included silverist Zhang Zhehui in the men’s 81-kg division, who lost a close final to Uzbekistan’s Sharofiddin Boltaboev after earning a waza-ari early but succumbing to a counter uchi-mata in the last minute. Bronze medals went to Li Yanan in the women’s 48-kg class and Sun Chunlai in the men’s 90-kg division, both securing podium finishes with strong performances in the repechage brackets.
The Chinese judo team, led by head coach Zhang Jun, has undergone a strategic shift in recent years, emphasizing international competition exposure and data-driven preparation. Since the Tokyo Olympics, where China won just one bronze medal (in the mixed team event), the federation has increased funding for athlete development and partnered with European clubs to improve technical versatility.
“We’re not just aiming for medals anymore — we’re building a sustainable program,” Zhang Jun told Xinhua News Agency during the championships. “Wu and Niu’s wins reflect the depth we’re creating. They’re young, hungry, and improving every tournament. The goal is consistency across weight classes, not just relying on one or two stars.”
The Hong Kong Coliseum, venue for the championships, hosted over 200 athletes from 35 nations. Despite limited local attendance due to scheduling conflicts with other sporting events, the atmosphere remained intense during medal rounds, particularly in bouts involving Japanese and South Korean competitors. The event served as a key ranking opportunity for Olympic qualification, with points awarded toward the world ranking list used for Paris 2024 seeding.
According to the International Judo Federation (IFF), Wu Hongtao’s victory elevated him to No. 12 in the world rankings in the men’s 73-kg division, while Niu Xinran rose to No. 14 in the women’s 57-kg category. Both athletes are now positioned to receive direct Olympic qualification should they maintain their form through the remainder of the qualifying period, which ends June 24, 2024.
China’s performance in Hong Kong contrasts with its showing at the 2023 Asian Games, where the team won only one gold (in the mixed team event) and failed to secure individual titles. The turnaround suggests that recent investments in coaching science, video analysis, and athlete welfare are beginning to yield results.
Looking ahead, Wu and Niu are expected to compete in the upcoming Grand Slam events in Tbilisi and Baku later this summer, using those tournaments as final tune-ups before the Olympic draw. The Chinese judo federation has confirmed that both athletes will remain in Europe for a extended training camp following the Asian Championships to adapt to different styles and competition rhythms.
For global judo fans, the Asian Championships continue to serve as a critical barometer of regional strength, especially as traditional powers like Japan and South Korea face increasing challenges from emerging programs in Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and now China. While Japan still leads the medal table in Hong Kong with four golds, China’s two individual titles signal a narrowing gap — one built not on occasional breakthroughs, but on sustained, measurable progress.
As the Olympic cycle enters its final stretch, every medal, every ranking point, and every tactical adjustment carries heightened significance. For Wu Hongtao and Niu Xinran, their gold medals in Hong Kong are not just personal triumphs — they are evidence that China’s judo program is evolving, adapting, and preparing to compete at the highest level when it matters most.
The next major checkpoint for the Chinese judo team is the Olympic qualifying deadline on June 24, followed by the official team announcement expected in early July. Fans can track updates through the International Judo Federation’s official website and the Chinese Olympic Committee’s competition portal.
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