Eleven-year-old Yuki Kurihara from Japan has made history at the Asian Games by winning the gold medal in the Puyo Puyo Champions event, marking him as the youngest athlete to secure a gold at the Games on home soil. The primary school student, competing in Aichi-Nagoya, defeated a series of opponents significantly older than himself, culminating in a 10-2 victory in the final.

Kurihara, who is believed to be the youngest competitor at the 2026 Asian Games, advanced confidently through the tournament. In the semifinals, he decisively beat Thailand’s 28-year-old Tanarak Wongkitkun by 10-1, securing at least a silver medal. In the final against 24-year-old South Korean Kang Dong-shin, Kurihara recovered from an early 1-0 deficit to claim the championship.

The Puyo Puyo Champions game is a puzzle-based competition involving clearing a screen by aligning and popping colored blobs. Despite his dominant performance, Kurihara appeared reserved after the match, explaining that he felt “a bit embarrassed” and was unable to express much emotion openly. On the podium, he bowed slightly and gave a brief wave to the audience while receiving his medal.

Kurihara began playing Puyo Puyo in his first year of primary school and rapidly gained success in competitive play. He obtained his professional license in April 2026 and frequently defeats adult competitors. Balancing school, additional academic commitments, and e-sports practice presents challenges, but Kurihara described the experience as “really fun” prior to the Games.

While there are no official records on the youngest medalists in the history of the Asian Games, which date back to 1951, Kurihara joins an elite group of young medallists. Notably, Indonesian skateboarder Bunga Nyimas won bronze at age 12 in 2018, and Chinese skateboarder Cui Chenxi claimed gold in women’s street skateboarding at 13 three years ago in Hangzhou.

Kurihara expressed pride in his accomplishments and appreciation for the tangible rewards, noting the gold medal’s weight and shine as well as the accompanying gold-colored plush toy. His victory highlights the increasing presence and recognition of e-sports within major international multi-sport events.