Tao Yuying Dominates Women’s -57kg at 2026 National Youth Judo Championships

XIAOGAN, China — In a display of clinical efficiency and technical superiority, Tao Yuying captured the gold medal in the women’s -57kg category at the 2026 National Youth Judo Championships on Saturday, April 11. Competing at the Olympic Sports Center in Xiaogan, Hubei Province, the Tianjin Chunhe Judo Team standout secured the title by delivering a flawless performance that underscored her status as one of China’s premier youth talents.

The tournament, which serves as both a youth championship for U18 and U20 divisions and a national points competition, brought together more than 700 athletes from 32 representative teams. Participants hailed from over 20 provinces, cities, and sports colleges across China, including delegations from Beijing, Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Shanghai.

A Masterclass in Groundwork

Tao Yuying’s path to the top of the podium was characterized by an overwhelming dominance in ground fighting. In the U20 women’s -57kg division, Tao won four consecutive matches, securing every single victory via katame-waza ippon (a full point awarded for a successful pinning or submission technique).

Her road to the gold included victories over:

• Song Yanyan (Jiangsu Team)
• Wang Meiqi (Guangdong Team)
• Jiang Yiqing (Henan Team)
• Basang Lhamo (Guangdong Team) in the final

For those unfamiliar with the scoring, an ippon is the highest score in judo, effectively ending the match immediately. By winning all four bouts through pinning techniques, Tao demonstrated a level of control and strength that left her opponents with no room for recovery.

Tianjin’s Golden Streak

Tao’s victory was a cornerstone of a highly successful weekend for the Tianjin contingent. Her gold medal marked the third for the Tianjin team at this event, contributing to a broader surge of success for the region’s judo program.

Other notable achievements for Tianjin included:

• Xie Hongyan: Captured gold in the U20 women’s -48kg category.
• Wang Jiaguang: Secured gold in the U18 men’s -60kg category.

The collective performance of these athletes suggests a strong developmental pipeline within the Tianjin Chunhe Judo Team, as they continue to secure podium finishes across multiple age groups and weight classes.

The Rise of Tao Yuying

Tao’s current dominance is the result of a strategic athletic transition. According to biographical records, Tao began her competitive journey in wrestling before transitioning to judo in 2020. Under the guidance of head coach Zhao Zhishan, she has rapidly ascended the ranks of the sport.

Her trophy cabinet has grown quickly since her switch to judo. In August 2023, she claimed gold in the women’s -57kg category at the East Asian Youth Games and won the U16 women’s 57kg title at the National Youth Judo Championships during the same month. She followed this in June 2024 by winning the U18 women’s -57kg championship at the National Youth Judo Championships.

Now recognized as a National Games champion, Tao has evolved from a promising youth prospect into a formidable force in the U20 circuit.

Broader Context: A Busy Season for Chinese Judo

The events in Xiaogan follow closely on the heels of other major national competitions. On April 1 and 2, the 2026 National Judo Championships and National Judo Points Competition (First Leg) took place at the Wenzhou Olympic Sports Center. That event also saw significant success for Tianjin, with athletes like Han Qi (men’s -90kg) and Niu Xinran (women’s +78kg) securing gold medals.

The frequency and scale of these events, coordinated through the China Judo Association, highlight the intensity of the current competitive cycle as athletes vie for national points, and rankings.

As the national points race continues, Tao Yuying and her teammates will look to build on this momentum. The focus now shifts to upcoming training blocks and the next scheduled stops on the national circuit.

Stay tuned to Archysport for further updates on the National Judo Points Competition and emerging talents in international combat sports.