YONGCHENG, Henan Province — Over 400 young judokas from across Henan Province gathered in Yongcheng for three days of competition in April 2026, showcasing skill and spirit in the province’s premier youth judo event.
The “奔跑吧·少年”2026 Henan Provincial Youth Judo Championship, held April 22–24, served as both a standalone title competition and a qualifying meet for the upcoming 15th Henan Provincial Games. Organized by the Henan Provincial Sports Bureau and hosted by the Henan Provincial Heavyweight Aviation Sports Center, Shangqiu Municipal Education and Sports Bureau, and Yongcheng Municipal Government, the tournament brought together 425 athletes representing all 17 prefecture-level cities in the province.
Competition took place across six divisions — men’s and women’s A, B, and C classes — with an innovative addition: a mixed-gender team event in the B class. Over the course of three days, athletes contested for 23 gold medals, with results reflecting strong performances from several traditional powerhouses.
Luoyang’s team led the medal count with seven golds, followed by Luohe with four. Zhengzhou and Puyang each secured three gold medals, while Shangqiu and Anyang earned two apiece. Single gold medals went to Sanmenxia and Kaifeng. In the overall team standings, Zhengzhou, Luohe, and Luoyang claimed the top three positions.
Beyond medal tallies, nine teams were recognized for sportsmanship, including squads from Jiaozuo, Xinxiang, and Shangqiu, earning the “Sports Ethics Excellence Award.” This dual recognition highlighted the organizers’ emphasis on balancing competitive achievement with personal development and mutual respect.
Officials noted the event’s broader purpose: identifying talent for provincial reserve teams and encouraging wider participation in judo across Henan. Held during late spring — described in local reports as a time of renewal and growth — the competition aimed to inspire young athletes through discipline, technique, and the judo principle of “maximum efficiency with minimum effort.”
The Yongcheng venue, known locally as the “Pearl of Eastern Henan,” provided a central location accessible to participants from across the province. While specific attendance figures for spectators were not disclosed in official reports, the competition’s scale underscored judo’s continued presence in Henan’s youth sports landscape.
As qualification for the 15th Henan Provincial Games, results from this championship will help shape the roster for Henan’s delegation in the multi-sport event scheduled for later in 2026. Athletes who performed well in Yongcheng now advance toward potential selection for intercity competition representing their respective municipalities.
For fans and followers of youth judo in central China, the April tournament offered a clear snapshot of current strengths and emerging talent within Henan’s judo programs. With teams from Luoyang, Luohe, and Zhengzhou leading in both medals and team points, the hierarchy of provincial youth judo remains competitive and dynamic.
Looking ahead, coaches and athletes will shift focus to preparation for the provincial games, where judo will compete for medals alongside other sports in Henan’s largest amateur athletic gathering. Updates on team selections and training camps are expected from the Henan Provincial Sports Bureau in the coming months.
Those interested in tracking Henan’s youth sports developments can monitor official announcements from provincial sports authorities or follow coverage from local outlets such as the Shangqiu Daily, which provided on-the-ground reporting during the Yongcheng event.
As the spring season transitions into summer, the lessons learned on the mat in Yongcheng — perseverance, respect, and the pursuit of excellence — will carry forward for these 425 young athletes, whether they advance to provincial glory or continue refining their craft in local dojos.
