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11-year-old Japanese player wins gold medal in esports at Asian Games
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Aaj Tak
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11-year-old Japanese player wins gold medal in esports at Asian Games

A historic achievement was made by an 11-year-old athlete at the Asian Games. Yuki Kurihara, an elementary school student from Japan, won the gold medal in esports. Notably, Yuki is younger than the famous Indian player Vaivava Suryavanshi, who was 15 years old.

On Saturday, Yuki defeated Kang Dongshin from South Korea with a score of 10:2 in the final of the Puyo Puyo Champions tournament. Previously, in the semi-finals, he beat Tanarak Wongkitkun from Thailand with a score of 10:1.

Yuki showed a passion for games from an early age. According to Japanese media, he trains about eight hours daily, balancing this with his schooling. He is considered the youngest gold medalist in the history of the Asian Games, although there is no official public record of the youngest medalists. The Asian Games were first held in New Delhi in 1951.

After winning the gold medal, 11-year-old Yuki expressed his joy very naively. He noted that the medal looked very beautiful, shiny, and heavy, and he also liked the golden plush toy he was given.

Esports at the Asian Games appeared three years ago in Hangzhou, China. At that time, the popularity of the event was measured by ticket sales through a lottery. Esports is also very popular in Japan.

The Asian Games are witnessing a flourishing of young athletes. For example, 12-year-old Komus Wong from Hong Kong participates in skateboarding, and 13-year-old Yu Jidi from China won three gold medals in swimming. Furthermore, 17-year-old swimmer Shin Ohashi from Japan can be considered 'older' among the youth; he set a world record in the 200-meter breaststroke on Thursday.

It is worth noting that Bunga Nyamas from Indonesia won a bronze medal in women's skateboarding at the Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018 at the age of 12. Additionally, Kui Chenshi from China won gold in women's street skateboarding at the Asian Games in Hangzhou at the age of 13.

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North Korean Lifter Wins Gold Medal at Asian Games, Overtaking Mirabay Khanu
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North Korean Lifter Wins Gold Medal at Asian Games, Overtaking Mirabay Khanu

At the 2026 Asian Games in the weightlifting hall, Mirabay Khanu finally won the medal she had waited for many years. In the women's 49 kg weight division, she received a silver medal by lifting a total of 198 kg. Although gold was expected from her, this result allowed India to secure its first weightlifting medal at the Asian Games since 1998. This success followed 28 years after Karnam Malleshwari's bronze medal.

Mirabay lifted 88 kg in the snatch and 111 kg in the clean and jerk, thereby bringing a medal to India. This silver award added to her collection, which already included an Olympic silver medal, three world championship titles (including gold), as well as numerous Commonwealth Championship titles and an Asian Championship bronze medal.

However, the dream of gold did not materialize again. Ri Song Gum from North Korea, a two-time world champion, won the gold medal by lifting 215 kg (94 kg in the snatch and 121 kg in the clean and jerk). She not only won the Asian Games gold medal but also broke the world record, completing a triumphant streak of three gold medals at the Asian Games.

Initially, Mirabay started the snatch with 83 kg, then successfully lifted 85 and 87 kg, placing third in the first half of the competition. In the clean and jerk, she secured her spot on the podium by lifting a best weight of 111 kg. Ri Song Gum joined the elite club of four weightlifters who have won three gold medals at the Asian Games.

After two previous disappointments, the Asian Games medal was finally within reach for Mirabay. Nevertheless, the weightlifter from Kim Jong Un's country left her dream incomplete due to her record performance. Ri Song Gum set a World Record (WR), as well as an Asian Record (AR) and an Asian Games Record (GR) by lifting 215 kg. This occurred on September 23, 2026, in Aichi-Nagoya.

13-year-old swimmer Yu Jidi breaks record by winning gold medal at Asian Games
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13-year-old swimmer Yu Jidi breaks record by winning gold medal at Asian Games

China's 13-year-old swimmer Yu Jidi won the gold medal in the women's 200-meter butterfly event at the Asian Games 2026, delivering an outstanding performance.

In the final match held at the Tokyo Aquatics Center, Yu Jidi set a new Asian Games record by clocking a time of 2 minutes 05.08 seconds.

Yu Jidi surpassed the record of 2:05.57 seconds set by China's Olympic champion Zhang Yufei at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022. She secured the gold medal by defeating her teammate Chang Mohan by more than three seconds, while Japan's Misa Okuzono won the bronze medal.

This is not Yu Jidi's first major international appearance; last year at the World Swimming Championships held in Singapore, she became the youngest medalist at the age of just 12. In that competition, she was part of China's bronze-medal-winning 4x200-meter freestyle relay team and also finished fourth in three individual events.

Earlier this year, Yu Jidi had defeated American Olympic champion Regan Smith in the 200-meter butterfly. Now, on her debut at the Asian Games, she has also set a record with an individual gold medal.

Notably, Yu Jidi will turn 14 next month. The 200-meter butterfly was her first individual event at the Asian Games, and she still has two other individual events to participate in.

Despite the victory, Yu Jidi did not appear completely satisfied with her performance, describing it merely as 'okay.' She believes she has the potential to perform even better. With 13 years old, having become an Asian Games champion and record holder, all eyes are now on Yu Jidi worldwide.

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