11-Year-Old Kurihara Sets Asian Games Gold Record

Eleven-year-old Japanese esports player Yuki Kurihara won the Puyo Puyo title at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, defeating South Korea’s Kang Dong-shin 10-2 in the final. The victory made Kurihara the youngest medalist and youngest gold medalist in Asian Games history, breaking records previously held by athletes who won medals at age 12. Kurihara advanced through the tournament unbeaten in group play, then defeated opponents from Singapore and Thailand on his way to the final. He began playing Puyo Puyo at age six and had already won a major Sega championship before the Games.