The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are showcasing a new generation of athletes, with teenagers and even pre-teens competing alongside established stars and proving that elite Asian sport is getting younger.
Among the youngest competitors is 12-year-old Hong Kong skateboarder Kamus Wong, who is taking part in the Games while still far from thinking she is ready for the Olympics. Wong said she knows she needs more training and experience before reaching that level.
Wong is not even the youngest athlete competing in Nagoya. That distinction belongs to 11-year-old Japanese esports competitor Yuki Kurihara, while 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi has already made a major impact after winning three gold medals at the Games.
The emergence of such young athletes reflects how the Asian Games have become an important development platform for competitors who are already performing at elite international level while still in their early teens. Sports such as skateboarding and esports have helped create pathways for younger competitors to enter major multi-sport events earlier than in many traditional disciplines.
Swimming has also produced a striking example of the youth movement. Japan’s 17-year-old Shin Ohashi set a world record during the Games, highlighting how athletes still in their teenage years are already competing at the highest levels of their sport.
The Philippines is part of that emerging youth wave through 12-year-old Mazel Paris Alegado, who advanced to the final round of the women’s skateboarding park competition. Alegado said landing her runs and enjoying the experience were among her main goals as she competed on the Asian Games stage.
The young athletes are also drawing inspiration from competitors who have already made the transition from teenage sensation to Olympic medalist. Wong, for example, cited British skateboarder Sky Brown as a role model. Brown won Olympic bronze at 13 in Tokyo and added another bronze at the Paris Games.
Their presence also adds a different dimension to the Asian Games. While established champions such as Carlos Yulo remain central to the competition, the performances of younger athletes provide an early look at competitors who could shape the next Olympic cycle and the future of Asian sport.
For these young competitors, the Games are not only about medals. They are also opportunities to gain experience, compete against athletes from across the continent and understand what it takes to reach the Olympic stage.
As the Aichi-Nagoya Games continue, the rise of these young athletes suggests that some of the biggest stories may not only belong to established champions, but also to the next generation already making their presence felt on the international stage.
