S. Korea's Kim Young-chan wins bronze in Gran Turismo 7, 1st esports medal at 2026 Asian Games

TOKONAME, Japan - South Korean gamer and racing enthusiast Kim Young-chan has claimed the bronze medal in the Gran Turismo 7 esports competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, marking South Korea's inaugural esports medal in the 2026 competition. The triumphant moment occurred on Wednesday at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, approximately 35 kilometers south of Nagoya, Japan's principal host city.

In the final of the Gran Turismo 7 esports event, Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira from Malaysia secured the gold, while Naif Abdulhakim S Alfaleh from Saudi Arabia took home the silver. Kim's bronze medal signifies South Korea's first esports victory, which encompasses 11 gaming events, including Gran Turismo 7 and League of Legends (LoL), at the ongoing Asian Games.

During the Gran Turismo 7 final, eight players competed in three rounds across various circuits using different vehicles. Kim initially started on pole position after claiming victory in the semifinals; however, he crashed into a wall during the third lap, finishing sixth. In the second race, Kim began from sixth position but climbed up to third place on the sixth lap, ultimately crossing the finish line first.