The 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya are showcasing a new generation of athletes, with teenagers and even pre-teens competing alongside established stars in sports ranging from skateboarding and swimming to esports.
Among the youngest competitors is 12-year-old Hong Kong skateboarder Kamus Wong, who is competing in the women’s park event. Wong has been skating since she was about six and says she still needs more training before she considers herself ready for the Olympics.
Wong is not even the youngest athlete at the Games. That distinction belongs to 11-year-old Japanese esports competitor Yuki Kurihara, who is taking part in an event that has rapidly expanded its presence at the Asian Games.
Esports is being contested as a medal sport in Aichi-Nagoya with 13 titles across 11 events, including Street Fighter 6, TEKKEN 8, Pokémon UNITE, League of Legends, PUBG MOBILE, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Gran Turismo 7.
Swimming has also produced one of the Games’ most closely watched young stars. China’s Yu Zidi, aged 13, won three gold medals early in the competition, including an Asian Games-record performance in the women’s 200m individual medley. She is due to turn 14 in October.
Japan has produced another major teenage breakthrough in the pool. Seventeen-year-old Shin Ohashi set a world record in the men’s 200m breaststroke on Sept. 24, becoming the first man to break the 2:05 barrier in the event.
The Philippines has also had a young representative making headlines in skateboarding. Twelve-year-old Mazel Paris finished fifth in the women’s park final on Sept. 25, posting a best score of 80.65. Japan’s Mizuho Hasegawa, 15, won the gold medal.
Skateboarding itself reflects the changing profile of international sport. The Aichi-Nagoya Games feature both men’s and women’s street and park competitions, with events being held at Aichi Sky Expo.
For many of these athletes, the Asian Games are more than a chance to win medals. They provide international competition at a major multisport event while the athletes are still developing their skills and gaining experience against competitors from across the continent.
The Games are running from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 and feature 43 sports, bringing together thousands of athletes across Aichi-Nagoya and other venues in Japan.
The emergence of athletes such as Wong, Kurihara, Yu, Ohashi and Paris highlights how quickly some young competitors are reaching elite international competition. Their performances in Japan could become important milestones as they continue developing toward future Asian Games, world championships and Olympic competition.
