On Sunday, the Olympic Council of Asia announced the MVPs of the Aichi‑Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, handing 13‑year‑old Yu Zidi and 20‑year‑old Puripol Boonson each a $25,000 prize.
Yu Zidi burst onto the scene with a hat‑trick of golds, slashing Games Records in the 200m butterfly (2:05.08), 200m individual medley (2:06.10), and 400m individual medley (4:28.56). Her 200m IM time also broke the Asian Record, cementing her status as the youngest MVP ever.
Boonson dominated the sprint track, clocking 9.90 in the 100m final to take gold and set a new Games Record, then smashing his own 200m Games Record with 19.88, tying the Asian Record. He also added a silver in Thailand’s mixed 4x100m relay, a reminder that he’s a threat on every surface.
The turning point for Boonson came in the 100m semis, where he lowered the Games Record to 9.91 and carried that momentum into the final. For Yu, the decisive moment was the 200m IM on September 21, when she eclipsed the Asian Record and opened a fairway for her third gold the next day.
The OCA MVP panel, chaired by Tayyab Ikram, praised the duo as “Asian sports superstars” and hinted at their potential to shine on the global stage at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
With the continental spotlight firmly on them, both athletes are now sharpening their focus for the Olympic road trip, where they could turn their Asian dominance into worldwide acclaim.