Hui out-attacked everyone including double world medallist Assunta Scutto (ITA), in the semi-final, and 10-time grand slam medallist Sabina Giliazova (IJF), in the final. The relentlessness of her judo in both tachi-waza and ne-waza is proving to be too much for her opposition and let’s remember that with so many years ahead of her, this style is still in its infancy; there is much more development and refinement to come!
Judo isn’t where Xinran began so how did she get here?
“I started in sport at ten years old. At first it was athletics, mostly sprinting 100m and 200m. Then, as I went to middle school at around 12-13 years old, I started training for triple jump. I also competed in the 400m, so I was a track and field athlete. While at middle school, my province judo team coach came to the school to choose new judo athletes. I was chosen and invited. The athletics coach also said to try judo but to come back to them if I preferred athletics.
When I first tried judo and started learning judo techniques, I found I could handle the techniques very fast. The coach liked what I was doing and he said so. I really liked that feeling and his encouragement so I stayed with judo.”
Did you know straight away that you would find yourself involved at the high level?
“I trained for only a short time, just one and a half years, and then went to the national cadet championships; I won! From that point, me and my coach talked about going to a higher level and I started to think that maybe I could do it. I started to think I could be a professional judoka. Now I’m at university too, studying coaching while training. Winning the national championships was important to me. Yes, I did it early at the cadet level but going into the seniors, I won gold too, in 2019, and that felt significant; it’s a good memory.”
Each part of Xinran’s life is linked to the next and so there is a real synergy which supports her development but what do her parents think about her chosen career?
“My mother supports me a lot. When I was very small I liked to dance and didn’t imagine I would become an athlete but when I found I was good at it, I continued. My mother sees that I’m good at judo and so she is happy for me. It goes beyond just the sporting aspect too; she also is happy that I can defend myself through learning this sport.”
Now, with this grand slam crown there will be a target on Xinran’s back. She will be studied and anticipated and never underestimated again. How does she feel about this new chapter?
“This is the very beginning of my world level career and my technical style is not fixed yet. Let them study me and I will always change from competition to competition. I am ready to work!”
It couldn’t be said better: Xinran Hui knows how much work lies ahead of her but she is ready to work!
