According to a report by Hualong News, Kong identifies "perseverance" as the core principle currently guiding the college's administrative reforms and training strategies.
The focus on long-term planning comes as the college seeks to modernize its approach to competitive sports. Kong, who transitioned to sports administration after a career in sports education and research, said that the institution has moved away from prioritizing quick results. Instead, the college has implemented over 30 new internal management and training policies, ranging from audit and tender supervision to updated funding and training guarantee systems, Hualong News reported.
Chongqing has launched a city-wide sports culture initiative titled “Sports Nourishing the Heart, Seeing Beauty in Movement,” which includes a campaign to introduce athletic culture into schools, villages, communities, commercial districts, competitions, and scenic areas.
The official slogan, “Xiongqi Chongqing, Sports First,” serves as the backbone for these efforts. Kong said that the college has adopted this slogan to steer its own internal culture, moving away from a previous reliance on “accumulating strength” toward a more proactive, competitive mindset.
To institutionalize this change, the college introduced quasi-military management for its athletes. This involves standardized daily routines, including morning exercises, attendance checks, and strict dormitory inspections. Kong said that these measures are intended to foster discipline and a collective sense of honor among the athletes. “The changes are visible to the naked eye,” Kong told Hualong News, citing improved attendance and better coordination between training and support departments.
The college’s recent competitive results provide a baseline for its current strategic shift. Athlete Hong Tianyue won a bronze medal in men’s singles badminton at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games, the first medal won by a Chongqing athlete at the Youth Olympic Games. Hong also claimed titles at the National Youth Badminton Championships and the Asian Youth Badminton Championships earlier this year.
Other notable performances include Liang Jinyue, who became China’s first world champion in the 50kg women’s freestyle wrestling category at the 2025 U23 World Wrestling Championships. Swimmers Gong Zhenqi and Luo Mingyu earned gold medals at the 2025 World Junior Swimming Championships, contributing to a total of 11 gold medals at the 2025 Asian Swimming Championships.
Kong emphasized that while these results reflect the effectiveness of current training programs, they represent a starting point for the new training cycle rather than a final destination.
The college is shifting from “experience-based training” to a data-driven model. This transition includes the appointment of specialized fitness coaches and the creation of dedicated research teams for various sports. Each high-priority athlete now receives an individualized training file, with performance plans adjusted dynamically based on physiological and biochemical data.
This scientific approach is supported by the “Six-in-One” guarantee system, which integrates physical training, scientific research, psychological support, medical rehabilitation, and nutritional planning into the daily workflow.
Kong explained that this infrastructure is designed to provide the necessary support for athletes to reach peak performance during the 16th National Games cycle. The college has also strengthened its pipeline for future talent by deepening cooperation with local universities and expanding selection efforts into district and county-level sports schools.
Kong remains focused on the upcoming training cycle, noting that the ultimate goal remains the representation of Chongqing on the national stage and the successful development of athletes capable of competing internationally.
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