From Grassroots to Gold: Jiaxing Athletes Dominate National Judo and Surfing Stages

In the world of elite sports, the path to the podium often begins in unassuming places. For the city of Jiaxing, that path leads directly through the Jiaxing City Sports School, a grassroots powerhouse that continues to prove its ability to cultivate world-class talent across wildly different disciplines. This April, the city’s athletic program hit a high note as two of its standout products, Zhang Wen and Liu Bowen, secured major honors at the national level in judo and surfing, respectively.

The contrast in their achievements—one battling in the disciplined, high-impact environment of a judo mat in Wenzhou and the other navigating the unpredictable swells of Hainan—underscores the versatility of Jiaxing’s sports pipeline. These results are not mere accidents of talent but the culmination of a structured development system designed to identify raw athletic potential and refine it into competitive excellence.

Zhang Wen: A Masterclass in the 63kg Division

Zhang Wen’s recent performance at the 2026 National Judo Championships and National Judo Points Competition (First Stop) in Wenzhou was nothing short of dominant. Competing in the women’s 63kg category, Zhang secured the gold medal, cementing her status as one of the premier judokas in the country.

The tournament, which adhered strictly to International Judo Federation (IJF) rules, served as a critical benchmark for athletes seeking points to secure qualification for the National Games. For Zhang, the victory was a validation of a journey that began far from the judo mat. Interestingly, Zhang was not always a martial artist; she first displayed her athletic prowess in middle- and long-distance running.

Her transition to judo occurred in the sixth grade, when she was scouted during a track and field competition in the Nanhu District. Coach Zhang Jianzhong, who recognized her potential, noted that her long frame, exceptional coordination, explosive power, and innate courage made her a natural fit for the sport. This foundation in endurance and agility provided Zhang with a distinct advantage as she moved into the technical rigors of judo.

Zhang’s trajectory has been one of steady ascension. After entering the Jiaxing City Sports School in May 2011, she progressed to the Zhejiang Sports Vocational Technical College in March 2014. By 2018, her skill set earned her a spot on the National Youth Judo Team. Her rise continued into 2023, when she was selected for the first phase of training for the National Women’s Judo Team, leading to international exposure and training stints in countries including Israel, Poland, and Uzbekistan.

In Wenzhou, Zhang combined this international experience with sharp tactical awareness to outmaneuver her opponents, proving that her ability to adapt under pressure is as formidable as her physical strength.

Liu Bowen: Riding the Wave in Wanning

While Zhang Wen was claiming gold in Wenzhou, Liu Bowen was facing a different kind of challenge in the coastal waters of Wanning, Hainan. Competing in the 2026 National Surfing Championships and the Asian Games surfing selection event, Liu and his teammates secured a third-place finish in the open men’s shortboard team relay.

Surfing is a sport of timing and intuition, and the relay format adds a layer of psychological pressure and teamwork. The event featured nearly 200 top-tier athletes from 21 representative teams across China. In a field of this size, a podium finish is a significant achievement, particularly in a selection event where the stakes include potential representation on the continental stage at the Asian Games.

Liu’s success in Hainan mirrors the “grassroots” narrative of his peer, Zhang Wen. Also a product of the Jiaxing City Sports School, Liu’s ability to compete at the highest national level in a sport that requires extreme specialization and environmental adaptation speaks to the breadth of the training provided by his home institution.

Understanding the Stakes: The Asian Games Selection

For global readers unfamiliar with the structure of Chinese national sports, events like the Wanning championships are not just about trophies. The “Asian Games selection” designation means that performances here directly influence who represents the nation in one of the world’s largest multi-sport events. For Liu Bowen, a third-place finish in the team relay puts him and his teammates firmly on the radar of national selectors.

The Engine of Success: Jiaxing City Sports School

The simultaneous success of a judoka and a surfer highlights a critical component of Jiaxing’s sporting strategy: the ability to pivot and support diverse athletic paths. The Jiaxing City Sports School does not simply specialize in one “safe” sport; it casts a wide net to identify talent and then provides the professional coaching necessary to scale that talent to a national level.

This system has a proven track record of producing elite athletes. Beyond Zhang and Liu, the school has successfully funneled talent into other high-performance programs, such as the Zhejiang Provincial Gymnastics Team, which saw athletes like Tian Hao and Chen Yilu rise through the ranks to national training camps.

The philosophy is clear: identify the raw physical attribute—whether it is Zhang Wen’s explosive power from running or Liu Bowen’s balance and agility—and match it with the sport where that attribute provides the highest competitive edge.

Key Athlete Profiles

What Comes Next

The momentum for these athletes is only building. For Zhang Wen, the focus shifts toward maintaining her ranking and accumulating further points through the national circuit to solidify her standing for upcoming major championships and the National Games.

For Liu Bowen, the immediate horizon is the Asian Games. Having proven his capability in the selection process in Wanning, the next step is the finalization of the national squad. His performance in the relay suggests a high level of synergy with his teammates, a trait that will be essential if he is called up for international competition.

As Jiaxing continues to celebrate these victories, the city’s sports programs serve as a blueprint for how grassroots investment can yield high-performance results. By focusing on individual athletic profiles rather than rigid sport categories, Jiaxing is ensuring that its athletes aren’t just participants in national events—they are contenders for the gold.

Stay tuned for official updates on the final Asian Games roster and the next leg of the National Judo Points Competition.