{
  "id": 9925259,
  "title": "Japanese 11-year-old wins Asian Games eSports gold",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/japanese-11-year-old-wins-asian-games-esports-gold-9925259",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-26T05:22:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/09/26/japanese-11-year-old-wins-asian-games-esports-gold"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Saturday, Japanese 11-year-old eSports prodigy Yuki Kurihara claimed Asian Games gold in a stunning display of skill. The bespectacled primary school student bested a series of opponents up to three times his age to secure victory in the Puyo Puyo Champions final. The puzzle game involves lining up and popping colored blobs, and Kurihara's mastery was on full display as he defeated South Korea's 24-year-old Kang Dongshin 10-2 in the championship match.\n\nUnruffled by the challenging competition, Kurihara maintained a composed demeanor throughout the tournament. He had previously upset Thailand's 28-year-old Tanarak Wongkitkun 10-1 in the semi-finals, having previously lost the first set. The primary school student began playing Puyo Puyo in the first year of his education and went on to obtain a professional license in April of this year.\n\nBalancing his intense training schedule with school and cram school, Kurihara expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming Games during an interview. He noted that the summer holiday offered ample opportunity for practice, allowing him to develop new strengths. While there are no records of the youngest medallists in Asian Games history, Indonesia's Bunga Nyimas won bronze in women's skateboarding at the age of 12 in Jakarta in 2018, and Cui Chenxi, 13, claimed gold in women's street skateboarding in Hangzhou three years ago.",
  "summary": "Yuki Kurihara, believed to be the Games' youngest competitor, won in style after thrashing a series of opponents up to three times his age.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Asian Games: Pandelela-Nur Eilisha finish fourth in platform synchro",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/asian-games-pandelela-nur-eilisha-finish-fourth-in-platform-synchro",
        "published": "2026-09-26T01:54:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Japanese 11-year-old wins Asian Games eSports gold",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/japanese-11-year-old-wins-asian-games-esports-gold-9922627",
        "published": "2026-09-26T05:22:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Nippon.com News",
        "title": "Japan's Yamashita Wins Men's Marathon Gold at Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/japans-yamashita-wins-mens-marathon-gold-at-asian-games",
        "published": "2026-09-26T05:46:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KBS World Radio",
        "title": "S. Korea Wins First Asian Games Gold Medal in Men's 3x3 Basketball",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/s-korea-wins-first-asian-games-gold-medal-in-mens-3x3-basketball",
        "published": "2026-09-26T05:52:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Asian Games: Anahat stuns world No. 6, now one win away from gold and LA Olympics",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/asian-games-anahat-stuns-world-no-6-now-one-win-away-from-gold-and-la",
        "published": "2026-09-26T06:36:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}