2026 Asian Games MVPs: Meet teenage sensation Yu Zidi and sprint king Puripol Boonson

Yu Zidi and Puripol Boonson (Photo Reuters/AP) The Asian Games have found two new superstars.China’s 13-year-old swimming sensation Yu Zidi and 20-year-old Thai sprinting powerhouse Puripol Boonson were named the Most Valuable Players of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) on Sunday.The pair have been rewarded for spectacular campaigns that have combined multiple gold medals with a string of Asian Games and Asian records, making them two of the brightest young stars on the continental showpiece.Yu and Boonson will each receive $25,000 from the OCA for their appearances.

Yu Zidi: Teen sensation makes history

Yu was one of Aichi-Nagoya’s breakout stars, winning three individual gold medals at just 13 years old and becoming the youngest MVP in Asian Games history.Her golden run began in the women’s 200 m butterfly, where she clocked 2:05.08 on September 20 to set a new Games record.A day later, she produced an even more impressive performance in the women’s 200m medley. Her time of 2:06.10 set a new Games record and lowered the Asian record.Yu completed her hat trick on September 23 when she won the women’s 400m individual medley in 4:28.56, another Games record.Three races, three golds and four records made the Chinese teenager one of the defining faces of the Games.

Yu Zidi of China (AP Photo)

Boonson: The Thai Sprint King

If Yu ruled the pool, Boonson owned the track.The 20-year-old Thai sprinter stormed the 100m to 200m double, setting four Asian Games records and equaling the Asian record during his campaign.In the men’s 100 m, Boonson first broke the Games record with 9.91 seconds in the semi-final, before going even faster in the final, clocking 9.90 seconds to win gold on 25 September.Two days later he completed the 200 meters sprint double. His winning time of 19.88 seconds broke his own Games record of 20.10 seconds and equaled the Asian record.He also added a silver medal in Thailand’s 4x100m medley relay, further underscoring his impact in Aichi-Nagoya.

Thailand’s Puripol Boonson celebrates winning the men’s 200m final. (Photo by Reuters)

Stars with Los Angeles in sight

The OCA MVP Awards Panel said the selection was particularly difficult due to the exceptional quality of performances across the games.Tayyab Ikram, chairman of the five-member panel, said Yu and Boonson had established themselves as “Asian sports superstars” and backed them to achieve even greater success at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.Their selection puts them alongside a distinguished list of previous Asian Games MVPs, including Japan’s Koji Ito and Kosuke Kitajima, China’s Lin Dan and Rikako Ikee and 2022 winners Qin Haiyang and Zhang Yufei.For Yu, still just 13, and Boonson, who is 20, Aichi-Nagoya could prove to be just the beginning. The Asian Games gave the continent two spectacular new stars – and a glimpse of what’s to come on the Olympic stage.