Five of the six student-athletes who competed climbed the podium during the Oct. 5–6 event.
Chongqing Finals Podium Finishes
Sarvarbek Abdumuminov, a 2029 undergraduate student from Uzbekistan, captured the gold medal in the 100-kilogram-plus division. Three of his teammates earned silver medals in their respective weight classes: Andranik Pambukhchyan, a 2028 undergraduate from Armenia, finished second in the 73-kilogram division; Bronze Urfrig, a 2029 undergraduate from the United States, took silver in the 66-kilogram category; and Saydmalikkhon Agzamkhodjaev, a 2029 undergraduate from Uzbekistan, earned the silver medal in the 81-kilogram division. Rounding out the medal haul, Iliyas Yessenaly, a 2028 undergraduate from Kazakhstan, secured the bronze medal in the 100-kilogram-plus class.
The national finals brought together 472 athletes representing 65 delegations from across China. The tournament is organized by the Chinese Judo Association as a national competition designed for mass-participation judo athletes.
Changsha Qualifying Staging Ground
The path to the Chongqing finals began weeks earlier at the Changsha qualifying leg held Sept. 19–20. That tournament drew nearly 600 competitors across 67 delegations, according to tournament records.
Under the guidance of judo coach Yang Yang, all six Kunshan Duke representatives medaled at the Changsha event to secure their qualifications for the national finals. Abdumuminov won gold in Changsha, while Levon Papyan, a 2030 undergraduate from Armenia, claimed a silver medal. Agzamkhodjaev, Pambukhchyan, Urfrig, and Yessenaly each collected bronze medals at the opening leg. Across both competitions, the 17-member squad—representing eight different nations since the team’s establishment in the fall of 2025—amassed a combined total of 11 medals.
Refining Technique Through Injury and Growth
For several athletes, the tournaments tested physical resilience. Pambukhchyan competed through the circuit following a toe fracture sustained during training that initially left him unable to walk. After modifying his training regimen to recover, he transitioned to a new weight class, moving from a bronze medal in Changsha to a silver medal in Chongqing.
“The competition taught me how to handle pressure and stay calm in different situations,” Pambukhchyan said, acknowledging the support of coach Yang, coach Hu, the athletics department, and his teammates.
For Agzamkhodjaev, the Changsha event marked his first official judo competition. Over the course of two weeks, he transitioned from an initial bronze finish to securing the silver medal in the 81-kilogram division at Chongqing.
Abdumuminov, reflecting on his dual gold-medal performance, emphasized long-term athletic development over single victories. “Winning the championship is a meaningful moment for me as both an athlete and a student,” Abdumuminov said. “While winning is exciting, I believe the most important thing is continuous growth as an athlete and never being satisfied with your current level.”
New Season Perspectives
With the conclusion of the Chongqing finals and the 11-medal haul across the Changsha and Chongqing legs, Iliyas Yessenaly noted that the results mark the beginning of a new season for the team.
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