Home Tatami, New Family, Big Stakes: Li Haiyang Heads Into Qingdao

Li Haiyang is heading into the IJF World Tour Qingdao Grand Prix with more than rankings on his mind. For the Chinese +100kg judoka, this event in Qingdao from 26th to 28th June brings together home support, national responsibility and a major personal milestone away from the tatami.

Competing internationally always matters, but for Li, doing it in his hometown carries extra meaning. He spoke about the honour of representing his country in Qingdao, where local support is expected to be strong with friends from nearby planning to be in the crowd.

At the same time, this tournament arrives during an important moment in his family life. Li shared that his wife has just given birth, so his family will not be there in person. That detail gives this home appearance an added emotional edge: a huge sporting opportunity unfolding alongside a brand-new chapter off the mat.

Qingdao is not just another stop for Li Haiyang.

Li enters the event as the world number 33 and the highest-ranked Chinese athlete in the +100kg category. That status puts him in a leading position for his division on home soil, especially after his bronze-medal result at this event last year.

His comments make clear that this is about more than individual goals. Li said representing the national flag means putting the country first, and that mindset shapes the way he approaches this tournament. He wants to show his strongest side in front of a home crowd that knows exactly what this moment means.

There is also a bigger target behind the immediate challenge. Li described the Olympic Games as his ultimate goal, while staying realistic about the work still ahead. In the short term, he is focused on collecting Olympic qualification points and continuing to move up the world rankings.

He also pointed to progress within his category, saying the gap between him and a familiar rival is slowly shrinking. That is a small sentence with a lot behind it. It suggests a judoka who sees development clearly, even if he knows the top level still demands more.

The pressure is real, but so is Li’s belief in his progress.

Li’s international experience is still relatively recent, with his competition in Qingdao last year marking the beginning of this stage of his journey. That makes this return especially interesting: he is no longer just arriving, but trying to build on what he started.

Away from the contest itself, Li also embraced the role of hometown ambassador. He spoke warmly about Qingdao, calling it a modern city with beautiful scenery and delicious food, and welcomed athletes, officials and fans from around the world.

That combination of ambition and pride gives his story a strong human dimension. Li is chasing Olympic progress, carrying expectations as China’s top-ranked +100kg athlete, and doing it in a city that feels like home.

As he prepares to step onto the tatami in Qingdao, Li will do so backed by local support, driven by national duty and motivated by the future he wants to build in judo.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation