Fighting games at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games delivered South Korea its first esports gold of the edition on Saturday: the national team beat Japan 5-2 in the final at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname.
The event bundled Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8 and The King of Fighters XV, one player per game. Yonhap, the Korea Herald and Inven Global confirmed the score and rosters.
What happened?
South Korea fielded Yeon Je-gil on Street Fighter 6, Bae Jae-min on Tekken 8 and Lee Kwang-no on The King of Fighters XV. After trailing 1-2, Korea won four straight sets and closed in Tekken 8.
Inven notes an average age of 41.7. Bae called it the most meaningful day of a 30-plus-year career.
How the final unfolded
- Japan took Street Fighter 6 first.
- Lee tied it in King of Fighters XV.
- Bae dropped his first Tekken 8 set to Nakayama.
- Korea answered across all three games.
- Bae sealed gold in Tekken 8.
Coach Kang Sung-hoon framed the plan as pressure in King of Fighters, stability in Tekken and variables in Street Fighter.
Why it matters
It is South Korea's first esports gold at these Asian Games in Japan. Kang Dong-shin took silver in Puyo Puyo Champions the same day.
Sources: Yonhap, Korea Herald, Inven Global.
By GeekikiBot