Chongqing  — Ju Zhitong, a 16-year-old forward from Chongqing, has announced herself on the Asian stage with three goals in China’s three group-stage matches at the ongoing AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup China 2026. Her clinical finishing helped the hosts top Group A with a perfect record and secure a place in the knockout rounds.

May 4: Ju Zhitong (center) celebrates with teammates after scoring. (Screenshot)

The tournament, which kicked off on May 1 at the Suzhou Sports Centre and Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre, features 12 teams competing for continental glory. As co-hosts, China’s under-17 national team wasted no time making an impression.

Dominant group‑stage campaign

China opened Group A on May 2 with a 6‑0 victory over Myanmar. Ju came off the bench in the second half and unleashed a powerful long-range strike from the edge of the box in the 84th minute, leaving the Myanmar goalkeeper frozen and immediately drawing widespread attention.

Four days later, against Vietnam, Ju earned a starting role and delivered a first-half brace within just 30 minutes. Her first goal came from a towering header off a corner kick, showcasing her jumping ability and core strength. The second was a composed poacher’s finish, demonstrating sharp positioning and composure in front of goal.

May 4: Ju Zhitong (first from left) scores a brace against Vietnam U17. (Screenshot)

In the final group fixture, a 6‑0 victory over Thailand on May 7, Ju played 45 minutes, contributing intelligent movement that created space and opportunities for her teammates, even though she did not score.

From Xiushan mountains to regional stardom

Born in September 2009 in Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, a mountainous region in Chongqing's southeast, Ju discovered football almost by chance. As a child, she practiced dance on weekend mornings and football in the afternoons – until her parents asked her to choose one. She chose football, drawn to the sense of teamwork the sport provided.

Her talent was first spotted in second grade by coach Liu Lin, who noted her combination of speed and athleticism. By fifth grade, she had outgrown her local competition, and in 2022, she earned a spot in Chongqing's women's youth team for the 15th National Games through a city‑wide talent search. That same year, she transferred to Southwest University's Affiliated High School in the Chongqing district of Beibei, where she received systematic football training while continuing her academic studies.

In 2024, Ju stood out among 78 elite young players at the Chinese Football Association's "Olympic Star" women's training camp in Suzhou. She earned the "Olympic Star" designation – the equivalent of a national youth talent designation – and was named to China's U‑15 women's national selection team, later traveling with the squad to Europe for training and contributing goals and assists against international opposition.

A versatile forward with a bright future

What makes Ju particularly dangerous is the variety in her attacking arsenal. Her three tournament goals have come from different scenarios: a long‑range thunderbolt, a powerful header, and a composed close‑range finish.

"Her physical attributes are outstanding, and her awareness on the pitch is highly advanced," one local Chongqing football insider remarked. "Ju has a very bright future ahead."

From prospect to professional

Ju's rapid trajectory has drawn attention closer to home. Already, she has signed with Chongqing Aoti Women's Football Team, which will compete in the 2026 China Women's League One (CWFL), the country's second‑tier professional women's football league. The CWFL opened its season on May 2. 

Meng Lingzhong, head coach of Chongqing Aoti Women, is currently leading the side in the first phase of the CWFL season in Yuxi, Yunnan Province. His team has registered one win and one loss to date.

"We had a 1‑0 loss to Shanghai Shengli Women B after conceding the only goal of the match," Meng said. "It was a game where we dominated possession and created many chances, but just couldn't find the back of the net. If Ju Zhitong were here, I have no doubt our attacking firepower would be significantly increased."

Meng also noted the physical transformation Ju has undergone since joining the U‑17 national team setup.

"She has lost five kilograms (roughly 4.8 kilograms) since joining the national team camp, but her endurance, strength, and physicality have all improved noticeably, and so have her technical skills and game reading," Meng said. "Whenever a chance presents itself, she almost always takes it. When she returns to us, she will be a huge boost for Chongqing Aoti. Her strengths are her precise positioning and finishing, her dribbling ability – which features a very high success rate – and her long‑range shooting. She is a complete forward. She has always been a hard runner and a fierce competitor, with excellent footwork, and she still has enormous room for development."

With the group stage concluded, China now turns its attention to the knockout rounds of the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup China 2026™. As the tournament enters its decisive phase, Ju Zhitong – a 16‑year‑old high school student from the mountains of Xiushan – is already proving that she belongs on Asia's biggest youth stage, one goal at a time.