China Wins First Gold of Nagoya Asian Games Esports, and a Historic Double
China opened the esports medal count at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games by defending its Honor of Kings title, sweeping Malaysia 4-0 in the final. The win gave the Chinese delegation a landmark moment: team captain Xu Bicheng, known in-game as Yinuo, became the first esports athlete ever to claim two Asian Games gold medals, according to Xinhua.
Honor of Kings is a mobile multiplayer online battle arena game developed by Tencent and played by hundreds of millions of people across Asia. The Chinese national squad was drawn from different professional clubs, then reshaped into a single unit for the Games. The roster included veterans who had already stood on an Asian Games podium and newcomers appearing on a formal national team list for the first time.
After the final, mid-laner Huang Yaoqin, known as Qingrong, wrote a short message that was widely shared by fans. He said he had imagined standing on the podium countless times, but when the moment finally arrived he could not find the words. “This moment is the best moment,” he wrote, thanking his team and supporters and adding that bigger stages still await. His gold completed a career grand slam, making him the second KPL player after Luo Siyuan, or Huahai, to collect every major title in the domestic league and international competitions.
The team’s coach, nicknamed Naicha, offered a note of caution rather than triumphalism. He told reporters that Malaysia had improved enormously and that in practice matches his side had actually won less often. The 4-0 scoreline, he suggested, flattered China on the day.
The victory drew congratulations from across Chinese gaming. The official account of Naraka: Bladepoint, a melee battle royale published by NetEase, posted that different arenas share the same passion and saluted the national team’s gold. China’s Olympic committee also issued a statement naming all six players, and Xinhua released a short documentary about the squad’s journey.
The win arrived alongside a clarification from the Olympic Council of Asia, which pushed back on reports that esports would be dropped from the Asian Games after Nagoya. In a statement, the council said the rumor did not match its working arrangements. It confirmed that Kuwait had signed a host city contract on September 19 to stage the first Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games in 2027.
For gamers around the world, the significance is straightforward. Esports entered the Asian Games as a medal sport in 2023, and its place on the program has been watched closely ever since. A second straight gold for China, plus a formal pathway through a dedicated continental event, suggests the discipline is being woven more deeply into the region’s sporting calendar rather than eased out.
Outside the arena, Chinese esports kept moving at its usual pace. Top laner Bai Jiahao, known as 369, told viewers on stream that he was far from unwanted, saying many playoff-level teams had approached him. Elsewhere, the Shanghai Valorant Champions event brought a tough opening round for Chinese squads, and League of Legends fans got a look at a new Prestige Baron Nashor Kog’Maw skin. The Games may be the biggest stage, but the scene never really stops.