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Yuki Kurihara Wins Japan’s First Asian Games Esports Gold

By Drooid · Sep 27, 2026, 7:56 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Yuki Kurihara Wins Gold

Yuki Kurihara, 11, won Japan’s first Asian Games gold medal in esports.
He beat South Korea’s Kang Dongshin 10-2 in the Puyo Puyo Champions final on Sept 26, 2026.
He defeated Thailand’s Tanarak Wongkitikun 10-1 in the semifinals.
He swept Singapore’s Justine Koh Mun June 5-0 in the quarterfinals.
He earned a professional esports licence in April 2026 after starting Puyo Puyo at age six.

Summary

Games Committee Apologizes

Secretary-general Satoshi Murate said fewer than 60% of tickets were sold for eight sports, including football and the closing ceremony.
The Games committee apologized officially after severe transport and accommodation errors stranded several athletes for hours.
Turkmenistan karateka Dayanch Keletliyev tested positive for meldonium in an out-of-competition test on September 20.

History

Historical Context

When Jakarta hosted the 2018 Asian Games, the event debuted esports as a demonstration sport, showcasing titles like Arena of Valor. The Jakarta Asian Games Organizing Committee reported 30,000 esports spectators and a 45% ticket-sale rate across all venues, prompting future revenue reforms. The 2026 Asian Games see Japan’s Yuki Kurihara win the first official esports gold as Satoshi Murate’s committee battles ticket shortfalls and transport glitches. These parallels suggest that early esports integration and past ticket-sale challenges shape current reforms, urging stronger logistics and clearer anti-doping protocols.

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Yuki Kurihara Wins Gold

Yuki Kurihara, 11, won Japan’s first Asian Games gold medal in esports.
He beat South Korea’s Kang Dongshin 10-2 in the Puyo Puyo Champions final on Sept 26, 2026.
He defeated Thailand’s Tanarak Wongkitikun 10-1 in the semifinals.
He swept Singapore’s Justine Koh Mun June 5-0 in the quarterfinals.
He earned a professional esports licence in April 2026 after starting Puyo Puyo at age six.

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