The bespectacled major college pupil joined his Japan team-mates this week for an inauguration ceremony forward of their residence Video games, which occur in Nagoya and the broader Aichi space from September 19 to October 4.
Kurihara will compete in eSports occasion Puyo Puyo Champions, a puzzle recreation the place gamers attempt to clear their display screen of colored blobs by lining them up and popping them.
He’s aiming to outshine a earlier youngster medallist in Indonesia’s Bunga Nyimas, who received bronze in ladies’s skateboarding aged 12 in Jakarta in 2018.
“I need to win in order that I can deliver a gold medal again for Crew Japan,” Kurihara mentioned.
The Asian Video games, which have been first contested in 1951, have in current editions witnessed quite a few school-age athletes.
Cui Chenxi, 13, grew to become China’s youngest Asian Video games gold medallist when she received the ladies’s road skateboarding occasion three years in the past in Hangzhou.
Cui was not even the youngest skateboarder showing on the Video games.
9-year-old Mazel Paris Alegado competed for the Philippines within the ladies’s park closing, and the ladies’s road closing had a pair of Thai opponents aged 11 and 12.
Kurihara began taking part in Puyo Puyo in his first yr of major college and shortly began competing in and profitable tournaments.
He obtained his professional licence in April this yr and commonly competes towards adults.
“It is arduous having to steadiness it with college and cram college, but it surely’s actually enjoyable,” he mentioned.
“It is the summer time holidays now so I’ve plenty of time to practise. I need to practise so much and develop some new strengths.”
Kurihara says his favorite meals is eel, and his “win price is best” if he eats it earlier than a contest.
Puyo Puyo is a recreation of ability and dexterity, with gamers seeking to set off chains to clear their screens of colored blobs.
Kurihara says he has pulled off a most chain of 19 and he’s seeking to polish his abilities additional.
“It feels nice while you set off a large chain,” he mentioned.
“I might love for newcomers to see a large chain too.”
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