{
  "id": 9689675,
  "title": "11-Year-Old Esports star makes Asian Games history",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/11-year-old-esports-star-makes-asian-games-history",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-25T03:06:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/11-year-old-esports-star-makes-asian-games-history-1.500687187"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dubai: The Asian Games have already produced a multitude of remarkable stories. Teenagers have been shattering records in the swimming pool, with China’s 13-year-old sensation Yu Zidi earning two individual gold medals, and Japan’s 17-year-old Yumeki Kojima breaking a world junior record. Afghanistan's Fariba Hashimi also made history by claiming a historic medal in women’s cycling. However, from Nagoya, a tale may have emerged that could surpass them all. Introducing Yuki Kurihara, an 11-year-old primary school student and the youngest competitor at the Games. Kurihara is an eSports player representing Japan in Puyo Puyo Champions, a fast-paced puzzle game developed in his homeland. Imagine Tetris, but with colored blobs, chain reactions, and immense pressure. During Thursday's matches, the young prodigy secured all four of his Group A victories, including a dominant 3-0 win over Hong Kong's 28-year-old Yu Wing Lim, to top the group standings. This success positions the schoolboy for an even greater feat on Saturday, as he could potentially become the youngest medalist in Asian Games history. The current record holder is Indonesia's Bunga Nyamas, who won bronze in women's skateboarding at the 2018 Games at the age of 12. Kurihara has already etched his name in history by becoming Japan's youngest-ever Asian Games athlete, having earned his spot on the team at just 10 years old. Prior to turning professional in April, two months before his 11th birthday, he recently defeated an adult professional in the Puyo Puyo Grand Prix Final. Off-screen, Kurihara's routine is remarkably similar to that of any other schoolboy. He consumes eel before competitions and shares many aspects of a typical childhood, attending cram school, playing football, and watching YouTube. However, when he immerses himself in the game, the young athlete transforms into one of Japan's most promising sporting talents. \"I hope to win a gold medal for Japan,\" he expressed. With the incredible events already unfolding at these Asian Games, it would be an extraordinary story if the Games' most historic moment belonged to an 11-year-old armed with a controller, a screen, and a knack for making colored blobs vanish. At 13, she has already shattered an Asian Games record.",
  "summary": "Dubai: The Asian Games have already given us plenty of incredible stories. Teenagers have been rewriting the record books in the swimming pool, with China’s 13-year-old sensation Yu Zidi collecting two individual gold medals, while Japan’s 17-year-old Yumeki Kojima has broken a world junior record. Afghanistan have also celebrated a landmark moment, with Fariba Hashimi claiming a historic medal…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "India win second gold medal of Asian Games: Suruchi, Kamaljeet storm to mixed team title",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/india-win-second-gold-medal-of-asian-games-suruchi-kamaljeet-storm-to",
        "published": "2026-09-25T03:35:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Asian Games eFootball silver medallists to receive cash reward",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/asian-games-efootball-silver-medallists-to-receive-cash-reward",
        "published": "2026-09-25T03:48:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}