NAGOYA — Yuki Kurihara of Japan won the gold medal in the Puyo Puyo Champions esports event at the Asian Games. The 11-year-old defeated Kang Dongshin of South Korea 10-2 in the final match to claim the title.

Kurihara is believed to be the youngest gold medalist in the history of the Asian Games, according to official records. He is also the youngest athlete in Japan's Asian Games history. Puyo Puyo Champions is a puzzle game where players clear their screen of colored blobs by lining them up and popping them.

In the semifinals, he defeated Tanarak Wongkitikun of Thailand with a score of 10-1. Wongkitikun is a 28-year-old professional Puyo Puyo player who has won multiple regional championships, including the 2024 Southeast Asia Puyo Puyo Open. Kurihara obtained his professional license in April 2026, just months before the competition.

The runner-up, Kang Dongshin, is a 24-year-old professional esports athlete who has competed in multiple international tournaments, including the 2025 Puyo Puyo World Cup. "It’s obvious that my opponent was skilled and above my level," Dongshin said. "His technical ability and accuracy are incredible."

"I’m really happy. The gold medal is really beautiful, shiny and heavy," he said. Japanese media reported that Kurihara trains eight hours daily.

He described the difficulty of maintaining this schedule alongside his education. "It’s hard having to balance it with school and cram school, but it’s really fun," he said.

Kurihara had established himself as a top competitor prior to the Asian Games. He won the Under-18 and Mind Game Player of the Year awards at the Japan eSports Awards in January 2026. In February 2026, he defeated an adult professional to win SEGA’s Puyo Puyo Grand Prix Final.

Why It Matters

The inclusion of esports in the Asian Games program began three years prior to the 2026 games in Hangzhou, China. This integration allows younger athletes to compete on a continental stage alongside traditional sports. The Asian Games were first contested in 1951 in New Delhi, India, making the event one of the oldest multi-sport competitions in the region.

His victory shows the growing presence of youth competitors in digital sports. Cui Chenxi, 13, won gold in the women’s street skateboarding event at the Asian Games in Hangzhou three years prior to 2026. These results demonstrate a shift in the age demographics of medalists in events that have recently joined the program.

Timeline

The Asian Games were first contested in 1951 in New Delhi, India. Esports was included in the Asian Games for the first time three years prior to the 2026 games in Hangzhou, China. Chenxi, 13, won gold in the women’s street skateboarding event at the Asian Games in Hangzhou three years prior to 2026. He obtained his professional license in April 2026.

On September 27, 2026, he said, "I’m really happy. The gold medal is really beautiful, shiny and heavy." On the same day, he said, "Also, the plush toy is super cute, and it’s cool that it is gold-coloured too." Also on September 27, 2026, he said, "To be completely honest, I felt a bit embarrassed, so I couldn’t really show my expressions or change my face much."

What's New

Tanarak Wongkitikun, the Thai player who lost to him in the semifinals, is a 28-year-old professional Puyo Puyo player who has won multiple regional Puyo Puyo championships, including the 2024 Southeast Asia Puyo Puyo Open. He said, "Also, the plush toy is super cute, and it’s cool that it is gold-coloured too." He said, "It’s hard having to balance it with school and cram school, but it’s really fun."

Kang Dongshin, the South Korean player who lost to him in the final, is a professional esports athlete who has competed in multiple international Puyo Puyo tournaments, including the 2025 Puyo Puyo World Cup. The official record of the event states that he is believed to be the youngest-ever gold medalist in the Asian Games. He is the youngest athlete in Japan's Asian Games history. The official record of the event states that he defeated Thailand's Tanarak Wongkitikun in the semi-finals, 10-1.

How Sources Differ

2023 Asian Games official results note that Chenxi, 13, won gold in the women’s street skateboarding event at the Asian Games in Hangzhou three years prior to 2026.