11-Year-Old Yuki Kurihara Becomes Youngest Athlete at Asian Games
· Sports · BBC Sport, AFP
Eleven-year-old Yuki Kurihara has made history by becoming the youngest athlete at the Asian Games, competing in the eSports event for puzzle game Puyo Puyo Champions in Nagoya, Japan. Kurihara topped Group A by defeating all four of his opponents and will compete for a gold medal on Saturday. The young eSports star earned his spot on the Japan team at age 10 in February by defeating an adult professional to win Sega's Puyo Puyo Grand Prix Final, turning professional in April. eSports is featured as one of 11 medal events at this year's Asian Games, which run from September 19 to October 4. Kurihara could also become the competition's youngest ever medallist, a record currently held by Indonesia's Bunga Nyimas, who won bronze in skateboarding at age 12 in 2018.
Why it matters
The inclusion of an 11-year-old competitor underscores the rapid professionalisation and youth demographic shift within competitive eSports at major international multi-sport events.
Read the original report — BBC Sport
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