BEIJING, April 18 — China’s judo team delivered a standout performance on the third day of the 2026 Asian Judo Championships, securing two gold medals, one silver, and two bronze medals as the competition unfolded in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The results marked a significant milestone for the Chinese squad, highlighting their growing strength across multiple weight categories ahead of the upcoming Olympic cycle. According to official results published by the Asian Judo Union and confirmed through live broadcasts on CCTV Sports, Chinese athletes stood atop the podium in the women’s -57 kg and men’s -81 kg divisions.
In the women’s -57 kg final, world-ranked contender Xu Shiying defeated her Japanese opponent in a tightly contested match decided by a waza-ari in the final minute. Xu, who had previously earned bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, displayed precise footwork and effective counter-techniques to claim her first Asian title. Her victory was sealed with a well-timed uchi-mata that left her rival unable to recover.
Shortly after, in the men’s -81 kg category, Chen Linglong dominated his South Korean rival with a combination of gripping control and explosive transitions, earning an ippon via seoi-nage midway through the bout. Chen, a two-time Asian medalist, had entered the tournament as one of China’s top hopes and lived up to the expectation with a composed, aggressive performance.
The silver medal came from Long Xiaoyun in the women’s -70 kg division, where she fell just short against a seasoned Uzbekistani athlete who countered her attack with a decisive osaekomi in the golden score period. Despite the loss, Long’s run to the final — including victories over higher-seeded opponents from Mongolia and South Korea — signaled her return to elite form after a year-long injury layoff.
Bronze medals were secured by Zhao Chunhai in the men’s -66 kg class and Wang Yan in the women’s +78 kg category. Zhao rebounded from an early-round scare with back-to-back wins, including a dramatic golden-score victory over a Kazakhstani home favorite, while Wang used her superior reach and timing to neutralize stronger opponents en route to the podium.
The third day’s haul brought China’s total medal count to five, placing them second behind Japan in the overall standings after three days of competition. Japan led with seven medals (four gold), while South Korea and Uzbekistan followed closely.
Head coach Zhang Yaping praised the team’s resilience and tactical discipline in a post-competition press briefing streamed by the General Administration of Sport of China. “These results reflect not just individual excellence but the depth of our program,” Zhang said. “We’ve been working hard on transition defense and grip fighting — areas that made the difference today.”
The 2026 Asian Judo Championships, held at the Alau Ice Palace in Astana from April 16 to 19, serves as a key qualifying event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with points awarded toward world rankings. Over 300 athletes from 41 nations competed across 16 weight divisions.
For China, the performance builds on a strong showing at the 2024 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where the team won six golds. The current roster blends experienced Olympians with emerging talent from the national development system, many of whom trained at the Beijing-based Judo Academy under the Chinese Wushu Association.
Looking ahead, the team will shift focus to the Grand Prix circuit in Europe beginning in May, with stops in Tbilisi and Baku serving as tune-ups before the World Championships in Budapest later this year. The next major continental test will be the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, scheduled for September.
As the judo world turns its attention toward the Olympic qualification period, China’s recent success in Astana underscores its ambition to challenge traditional powers on the global stage. With consistent medal production and technical evolution, the squad appears poised for a strong push toward Los Angeles 2028.
Fans can follow updates and athlete profiles through the official Asian Judo Union website and the Chinese Olympic Committee’s sports portal. For now, the celebration continues in Beijing, where the latest achievements have reignited national interest in one of combat sports’ most disciplined arts.
