Tianjin Judo Team Clinches Two Gold Medals on Opening Day of 2026 National Youth Championships
The 2026 National Youth Judo Championships and the second leg of the National Judo Points Competition opened with a dominant display from the Tianjin judo team. During the first day of competition on Thursday, April 9, in Xiaogan, Hubei Province, Tianjin secured two gold medals, signaling a strong start for the delegation in one of China’s premier youth sporting events.
The results from the opening session highlight the depth of Tianjin’s talent pipeline, with gold medalists emerging from both the U20 women’s and U18 men’s divisions. The performances were characterized by a mix of technical precision and mental resilience, particularly in high-pressure overtime scenarios.
Xie Hongyan Dominates Women’s U20 -48kg Division
In the Women’s U20 -48kg category, Tianjin’s Xie Hongyan delivered a clinical performance to capture the gold medal. Xie’s path to the top of the podium was marked by a diverse array of winning techniques, showcasing her versatility on the mat.
Xie began her campaign with a decisive victory over Ma Yunxia of Jilin, winning by ippon via a ground technique (katame-waza). She maintained her momentum in the second match against Li Xiuhong of Guangdong, securing the win with a sode-tsurikomi-goshi (sleeve lifting hip throw) for a yuko score.
The final showdown saw Xie face Beijing’s Li Yichen. Xie locked in the victory and the gold medal using an uchi-mata (inner thigh throw) for an ippon*, completing a flawless run to the title.
Wang Jiaguang’s Grit Leads to U18 -60kg Gold
The Men’s U18 -60kg division provided one of the most grueling paths to gold, as Tianjin’s Wang Jiaguang fought through six intense matches to secure his victory. Wang’s performance was a testament to both his technical skill and his endurance.
Wang opened his tournament with an ippon victory over Zhejiang’s Wu Zicheng using a seoi-nage (shoulder throw). He followed this with another ippon in his second match, utilizing a de-ashi-barai (forward foot sweep) to defeat Liu Duoyuan of Chongqing.
The middle stages of the tournament saw Wang advance through tactical discipline. In his third match against Peng Yu of Fujian and his fourth against Ren Jiajie of Beijing, both opponents were disqualified for passivity, allowing Wang to progress without further physical exertion.
The intensity ramped up in the fifth match against Nan Ding of Inner Mongolia. Wang scored a waza-ari with a leg-pick technique (穿腿), eventually winning the match as time expired.
The gold medal match against Hunan’s Liu Hengyu pushed Wang to the limit. After a stalemate in regulation, the contest entered overtime. Wang ultimately secured the gold by transitioning an uchi-mata into a yoko-shiho-gatame (side four-quarter hold), winning the match and demonstrating significant psychological fortitude.
Note for global readers: In judo, an “ippon” is the highest score, ending the match immediately, while “waza-ari” and “yuko” are lower-scoring points that contribute to a victory if not countered or surpassed.
A Pattern of Success: Tianjin’s Recent Form
The success in Xiaogan follows a strong showing by the Tianjin judo program earlier this month. On April 1, 2026, during the first stop of the National Judo Championships and National Judo Points Competition in Wenzhou, the Tianjin Chunhe Judo Team displayed similar dominance.
Records from the Wenzhou event indicate that Tianjin secured two gold, one silver, and two bronze medals on the third day of competition alone. Across the first two days of that event, the team had already gathered one gold, one silver, and three bronze medals. Notable performances from the Wenzhou stop included a gold medal from veteran Tang Jing and a silver medal from 16-year-vintage Xie Mingfen, who made a successful debut in the adult category.
This consistent performance across both adult and youth championships suggests that Tianjin is currently one of the most potent forces in Chinese judo, with a balanced roster of experienced veterans and rising stars.
Tournament Outlook
As the 2026 National Youth Judo Championships continue in Hubei Province, the Tianjin team is expected to remain a primary contender for the overall title. The team’s ability to win across different age groups and weight classes indicates a comprehensive training regimen and a high level of competitive readiness.
The competition remains ongoing in Xiaogan, with further matches scheduled to determine the remaining champions of the youth circuit.
Next Milestone: Official results from the subsequent competition days in Xiaogan will be released as the tournament progresses.
Do you perceive Tianjin’s youth success will translate to the senior national team in the coming years? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
