NAGOYA, Japan (AP) — Eel is his favorite training food, he's only 11 years old, and he found his niche in his sport when he was in kindergarten.
His thing is esports.
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Japan's Yuki Kurihara gestures before the start of his Puyo Puyo Champions esports final match against Kang Dong-shin of South Korea at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Japan's Yuki Kurihara competes against Kang Dong-shin of South Korea during the Puyo Puyo Champions esports final at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Competitors wait for final results following the Esports auto racing Gran Truismo 7 final at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Gold medalist Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira from Malaysia, right, gestures to fellow competitors following the Esports auto racing Gran Truismo 7 final at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan's Yuki Kurihara prepares for his Puyo Puyo Champions esports quarterfinal match against Singapore's Justine Koh Mun June at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) CORRECTION: Corrects first name to Yuki instead of Yuri
He defeated Tanarak Wongkitikun of Thailand in the semifinals, 10-1. The Thai player is a relative old-timer at 28.
“I’m really happy,” Kurihara said. “The gold medal is really beautiful, shiny and heavy.”
He said he also liked the little mascot doll he was given for winning.
“The plush toy is super cute, and it’s cool that it is gold-colored too.”
Kang, the loser in the final, praised Kurihara,
“It’s obvious that my opponent was skilled and above my level,” Kang said. “His technical ability and accuracy are incredible.”
Kurihara is believed to be youngest-ever gold medalist in the Asian Games, which date from 1951 in New Delhi, India. And he’s certainly the youngest in these Asian Games.
Japanese media has reported he trains eight hours daily and still keeps up his grades in school.
Esports was held in the Asian Games for the first time three years ago in Hangzhou, China. It was so popular that tickets were sold by lottery. It's also an audience favorite in Japan.
Youth is being served at the Asian Games. Kamus Wong is a 12-year-old competing for Hong Kong in skateboarding, and 13-year-old Yu Zidi of China won three gold medals in swimming.
A relative senior citizen, 17-year-old Japanese swimmer Shin Ohashi set a world record on Thursday in the 200-meter breaststroke.
See full AP coverage of Asian sports here
Japan's Yuki Kurihara gestures before the start of his Puyo Puyo Champions esports final match against Kang Dong-shin of South Korea at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Japan's Yuki Kurihara competes against Kang Dong-shin of South Korea during the Puyo Puyo Champions esports final at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Competitors wait for final results following the Esports auto racing Gran Truismo 7 final at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Gold medalist Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira from Malaysia, right, gestures to fellow competitors following the Esports auto racing Gran Truismo 7 final at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan's Yuki Kurihara prepares for his Puyo Puyo Champions esports quarterfinal match against Singapore's Justine Koh Mun June at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) CORRECTION: Corrects first name to Yuki instead of Yuri
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A new European soccer league kicked off in Romania’s capital this week, giving amputee players from countries lacking domestic leagues an opportunity to compete on an international stage.
The European Amputee Football Federation, or EAFF, inaugurated the new Conference League in Bucharest. The games were held Thursday and Friday, and the final concluded on Friday when Maccabi Haifa FC of Israel was crowned the winner after beating Scotland’s Ayr United 4-0.
The victory meant a lot to Ben Binyamin of the team from Israel. Back in 2023, the Israeli player had his right leg blown off during the Hamas attack on the Tribe of Nova music festival, which left him fearing he would never play soccer again.
“I am very happy that we won this tournament, we won without conceding a single goal,” he told The Associated Press. “Football itself for us is our physiotherapy, our life, and our second family. It helps us in life. It gives us strength.”
Four teams participated in the tournament: FCSB of host nation Romania, Maccabi Haifa FC of Israel, Ayr United of Scotland and Panathinaikos AC PwD of Greece.
“We are very satisfied, very happy to bring pride to the country,” Binyamin added.
Inspired by the European club competition model in able-bodied soccer, the EAFF described the new league as a “historic milestone” that represents “another important step in the development of European amputee football.”
“The Conference League creates an international opportunity for clubs from countries where domestic amputee football leagues are not yet established,” it says on its website.
Played in a seven-versus-seven format, on 60-meter (196-foot) by 40-meter (131-foot) fields, amputee soccer is a game for amputees and people living with limb defects. Players have one leg and a pair of crutches, while goalkeepers have both legs but one hand or arm.
Established in 2015, the EAFF aims to help people with amputations or limb defects gain access to amputee soccer throughout Europe. The World Amputee Football Federation was established in 2002 and a World Cup is held every four years.
The new league hopes to attract more spectators to amputee soccer and gives teams opportunities to build international relationships. The EAFF also organizes a Nations League, Champions League, Europa League, and holds other initiatives like women’s and junior camps.
Iain Matthew, manager of the Scottish team, told the AP that while his team’s 0-4 loss to Maccabi Haifa was disappointing, the league itself offered valuable experience for his players.
“The competition is great for smaller nations … to get European football experience,” he said. “I think we could have played better, we could have defended better, but you’ve got to praise your players for what they’ve done over the week.”
McGrath reported from Leamington Spa, England.
Maccabi Haifa's Ben Binyamin poses with the trophy during the medal ceremony at the end of the amputee soccer inaugural EAFF Conference League in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Maccabi Haifa's players line up before an amputee soccer match between Maccabi Haifa and Panathinaikos in the inaugural EAFF Conference League in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
FCSB's Marian Sacacol, left, challenges for the ball with Ayr United's Charlie Hewson during an amputee soccer match between FCSB and Ayr United in the inaugural EAFF Conference League in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
FCSB's players warm-up before an amputee soccer match between FCSB and AFAS in the inaugural EAFF Conference League in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Panathinaikos' Vasileios Gogolos stretches during an amputee soccer match between Maccabi Haifa and Panathinaikos in the inaugural EAFF Conference League in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
