Japanese Elementary School Student Wins Asian Games Gold After Defeating Kang Dong-shin, Sets Youngest-Ever Record [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News] South Korean e-sports national team member Kang Dong-shin, 24, won a silver medal at the Asian Games after losing to Yuki Kurihara, a Japanese elementary school student 13 years his junior. With the victory, Kurihara became the youngest medalist in Asian Games history.
Kang Dong-shin lost 2-10 to Kurihara in the Puyo Puyo Champions final at the 2026 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya e-sports competition, held on the 26th at Aichi Sky Expo in Aichi Prefecture. Puyo Puyo is a game in which players connect four or more jelly characters of the same color, pop them, and hinder their opponents.
After the match, Kang Dong-shin said, "I was not under much pressure from facing an elementary school student," adding, "Kurihara became a national team member after defeating players with tremendous careers in Japan." Assessing his own performance, he said, "I was in good condition and did not feel nervous," but added, "It is a bit disappointing because I feel I was slightly unlucky."
Kang Dong-shin advanced from Group A with a 4-1 record, then defeated India's Paritosh 5-0 in the quarterfinals. He also overwhelmed Taiwan's Kuo Tzu-ang 10-3 in the semifinals, but could not get past Kurihara in the final.
Born on June 18, 2015, Kurihara set a new record as the youngest Asian Games medalist by winning the gold medal. After the final, Kurihara said, "I faced the strong opponent I most wanted to play in the final," adding, "I entered the match thinking that I would be really happy if I won here, and I am truly delighted that I managed to win decisively."
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