"If I Put a Crown on You, Will You Win Gold?" The Stunning Upset Sparked by a Single Remark from EXO's Kai [2026 Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya]

[Financial News] It was a nail-biting contest in which Asian Games gold was decided by just 0.003 points. The driving force behind the miraculous victory was none other than unwavering fandom for K-pop. At the wushu venue of the 2026 Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya, a cinematic story of a fan who achieved her dream captivated K-pop and sports fans around the world.
The heroine of this remarkable story is Lydia Sham Hui-yu, 26, a member of Hong Kong's national wushu team who served as the delegation's flag bearer at the opening ceremony. On the 21st, she delivered an outstanding performance in the women's changquan event of wushu taolu at Aichi Prefectural Budokan in Nagoya, Japan, scoring 5.000 points for movement quality, 2.713 points for performance, and 2.00 points for difficulty, for a total of 9.713 points. She narrowly defeated Macau's Sou Cho Man, who scored 9.710 points, by just 0.003 points to claim the top spot on the podium in a dramatic finish.
But there is another reason this gold medal has caused such a sensation, even in South Korea. As soon as the veteran athlete, who had made three consecutive Asian Games appearances, secured the gold, the first thing she did was confirm a promise involving EXO, one of South Korea's top idol groups.



Immediately after winning the gold medal, Lydia Sham Hui-yu posted photos taken with EXO members and a video from a past EXO fan meeting, where Kai personally cheered her on. Even more surprising was the message she left in Korean. Writing carefully in Hangul, she shared her emotional reaction: "I worked hard to keep this promise! Thank you! See you at the encore concert from November 6 to 8!"
The story behind the old video she shared is touching and powerful.
At the fan meeting, Kai warmly asked Lydia Sham Hui-yu, "If I make a crown above your head, can you win the gold medal?" Lydia firmly replied, "I will do my best." Kai then raised both hands above his head and carefully formed a crown, prompting Lydia to cover her face with both hands as if overwhelmed with emotion. The "invisible crown" the star placed above his fan's head had become a real, golden Asian Games medal.
According to Hong Kong media outlets, Lydia Sham Hui-yu's "love for EXO" goes beyond ordinary fandom. A passionate EXO fan since middle school, she endured grueling wushu training with one goal in mind: "Just as EXO shines brightly on stage, I want to become someone who shines on my own stage."
Even the competition uniform she wore when she won gold at the 2026 Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya was far from ordinary. The hexagonal patterns embroidered across the outfit represented EXO's official symbol. For Lydia Sham Hui-yu, who competed wearing EXO's emblem like armor, the group's support was more than simple encouragement—it was a powerful booster that helped her overcome the 0.003-point barrier.
The Hong Kong wushu queen won gold on the biggest stage and kept her promise to the star. Her next stage will not be a podium, but EXO's encore concert venue this November.


[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter