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Oct 8,2026 06:02 PM IST

Meet The 11-Year-Old Esports Wonderkid Yuki Kurihara Who Just Won Asian Games Gold

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Sports Home Asian Games 2026 News Meet The 11YearOld Esports Wonderkid Yuki Kurihara Who Just Won Asian Games Gold

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Meet The 11-Year-Old Esports Wonderkid Yuki Kurihara Who Just Won Asian Games Gold

Eel is his favorite training food, he's only 11 years old, and he found his niche in his sport when he was in kindergarten.

Associated Press
Updated: September 26, 2026 05:53 pm IST

Read Time: 2 min

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Asian Games: Gold medalist Yuki Kurihara of Japan at the medal ceremony for the Esports Puzzle.© Getty

Eel is his favorite training food, he's only 11 years old, and he found his niche in his sport when he was in kindergarten. His thing is esports. Meet Yuki Kurihara, the Japanese elementary school student who defeated Kang Dongshin of South Korea 10-2 on Saturday in the final of the Puyo Puyo Champions puzzle game at the Asian Games. He defeated Tanarak Wongkitikun of Thailand in the semifinals, 10-1. The Thai player is a relative old-timer at 28. "I'm really happy," Kurihara said. "The gold medal is really beautiful, shiny and heavy."

He said he also liked the little mascot doll he was given for winning.

"The plush toy is super cute, and it's cool that it is gold-colored too."

Kang, the loser in the final, praised Kurihara,

"It's obvious that my opponent was skilled and above my level," Kang said. "His technical ability and accuracy are incredible."

Kurihara is believed to be youngest-ever gold medalist in the Asian Games, which date from 1951 in New Delhi, India. And he's certainly the youngest in these Asian Games.

Japanese media has reported he trains eight hours daily and still keeps up his grades in school.

Esports was held in the Asian Games for the first time three years ago in Hangzhou, China. It was so popular that tickets were sold by lottery. It's also an audience favorite in Japan.

Youth is being served at the Asian Games. Kamus Wong is a 12-year-old competing for Hong Kong in skateboarding, and 13-year-old Yu Zidi of China won three gold medals in swimming.

A relative senior citizen, 17-year-old Japanese swimmer Shin Ohashi set a world record on Thursday in the 200-meter breaststroke.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Asian Games 2026 Medals Tally

No. Country G S B Total 1

People's Republic of China

People's Republic of China 169 89 83 341 2

Japan

Japan 83 95 91 269 3

Republic of Korea

Republic of Korea 39 43 68 150 4

India

India 21 27 37 85 5

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan 21 25 24 70

Full Medals Table

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Meet The 11-Year-Old Esports Wonderkid Yuki Kurihara Who Just Won Asian Games Gold

Eel is his favorite training food, he's only 11 years old, and he found his niche in his sport when he was in kindergarten.

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