Rising Young Talents Shine Brightly at the Asian Games
Summary: Eleven-year-old Yuki Kurihara from Japan made history by winning the “Puyo Puyo Champions” esports event in Aichi-Nagoya, becoming the youngest Japanese champion in Asian Games history. In skateboarding, 12-year-old Taiwanese athlete Ku Yong-yan earned silver in the men’s park final, while 15-year-old Japanese skater Izuru Nagahara took the gold. Human rights advocate Kanee Doi expressed concerns over the pressures on young athletes and incidences of physical, verbal, and sexual abuse. Kathmandu, October 29.
The Asian Games have previously crowned teenage champions, but the outstanding achievements of young talents in this edition are particularly remarkable. Eleven-year-old Yuki Kurihara’s gold medal victory at such a young age is one clear example. As a primary school student, Kurihara outperformed competitors up to three times her age to claim an historic gold medal in esports in Aichi-Nagoya. She is the youngest champion ever in Japanese Asian Games history, and possibly the youngest ever in the games overall.
Kurihara remained silent immediately after winning the “Puyo Puyo Champions” final on Saturday. The game involves clearing the screen by matching multiple colored circular pieces. Turning 12 next month, Kurihara described her reaction after the victory as “shy.” On Sunday, her picture prominently appeared in Japan’s national newspapers. Since the first Asian Games in 1951, there is no official record listing the youngest medalists, but the addition of new sports aimed at attracting younger spectators in recent editions has seen youth players deliver increasingly impressive performances.
In skateboarding, 12-year-old Ku Yong-yan from Taiwan took silver in the men’s park final on Friday, while 15-year-old Izuru Nagahara from Japan won the gold. Prior to clinching gold, Nagahara received an anesthetic injection to alleviate knee pain caused by an injury. Also competing in skateboarding was Majel Paris from the Philippines, who participated in the previous Asian Games at only nine years old. When asked about the changes she has experienced since the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, 12-year-old Paris said, “I have definitely grown up.” Meanwhile, 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi is also competing in these Asian Games this week.
Despite these exciting stories, concerns have been raised about young athletes competing alongside adults at the international level and the immense pressure to win for their countries. Kanee Doi, Japan director of Human Rights Watch, stated before the games, “Moments of victory do not come easily; they result from years of disciplined training, often beginning in childhood.”
According to Doi, such journeys should offer children joy from sport and competition, alongside opportunities for physical, mental, and personal development. However, many young athletes have reported experiencing physical, verbal, and sexual abuse within the very environments meant to support their growth. Doi highlighted that in Japan — a host nation of the Asian Games — children frequently face abuse during their training at schools, sports federations, and elite sports programs.
In 2024, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) published a consent document for young athletes participating in Olympic sports, noting that 50 percent of common mental health issues appear before age 18. The document also emphasizes that adolescent athletes are more susceptible to certain types of injuries. Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi made history last year by winning a bronze medal at the World Championships at age 12, becoming the youngest medalist ever in that competition. Now a teenager, she is considered a strong contender for outstanding performance at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. At the Nagoya Asian Games, she is also a focal point, having already won three gold medals, each with record times. Yet after swimming events, when reporters surround her, she looks her 13 years of age and remarked, “Giving interviews is harder than racing.”