Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi (L) and Thai sprinter Puripol Boonson pose with the awards for the most valuable player (MVP) of the 20th Asian Games during the awarding ceremony at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)
NAGOYA, Japan, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Thai sprinter Puripol Boonson and Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi were named the men's and women's Most Valuable Players of the 2026 Asian Games, the Olympic Council of Asia announced Sunday.
Boonson won the men's 100m and 200m titles and took silver in the mixed 4x100m relay. The 20-year-old clocked an Asian Games record of 9.90 seconds in the 100m, becoming the only finalist to break the 10-second barrier.
"It is something that makes both my family and my country proud and happy," Boonson said. "This achievement has given me a tremendous boost in confidence. With the Los Angeles Olympics coming up, I will give my all to win a medal there."
Yu, 13, claimed three gold medals, setting an Asian record in the women's 200m individual medley and Asian Games records in the 200m butterfly and 400m individual medley.
"I will continue to train hard, push myself and work alongside young athletes across Asia to inspire more young people to love and take part in sports, especially swimming," she said. ■
Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi poses with the award for the most valuable player (MVP) of the 20th Asian Games during the awarding ceremony at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)
Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi (2nd L) and Thai sprinter Puripol Boonson (2nd R), the most valuable players (MVP) of the 20th Asian Games, pose with Ding Ning (1st L), chair of the Athletes' Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), and Vinod Kumar Tiwari, deputy director general of the OCA, during the awarding ceremony at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)
Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi (R) recieves the trophy of the most valuable player (MVP) of the 20th Asian Games from Ding Ning, chair of the Athletes' Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) during the awarding ceremony at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)
Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi (2nd L) and Thai sprinter Puripol Boonson (2nd R), the most valuable players (MVP) of the 20th Asian Games, pose with Ding Ning (1st L), chair of the Athletes' Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Mohammad Tayyab Ikram (3rd L), chairman of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games Coordination Committee, and Vinod Kumar Tiwari, deputy director general of the OCA, during the awarding ceremony at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)
Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi poses with the trophy of the most valuable player (MVP) of the 20th Asian Games during the awarding ceremony at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)
Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi (R), the most valuable player (MVP) of the 20th Asian Games, poses with Ding Ning, chair of the Athletes' Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) during the awarding ceremony at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)
Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi (R), the most valuable player (MVP) of the 20th Asian Games, shakes hands with Ding Ning, chair of the Athletes' Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) during the awarding ceremony at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)
Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi (2nd L) and Thai sprinter Puripol Boonson (2nd R), the most valuable players (MVP) of the 20th Asian Games, pose with Ding Ning (1st L), chair of the Athletes' Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), and Vinod Kumar Tiwari, deputy director general of the OCA, during the awarding ceremony at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)
Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi, the most valuable player (MVP) of the 20th Asian Games, attends a press conference at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)
Photo taken on Oct. 4, 2026 shows the gift for the most valuable player (MVP) of the 20th Asian Games ahead of the awarding ceremony at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)
Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi (3rd L) and Thai sprinter Puripol Boonson (2nd R), the most valuable player (MVP) of the 20th Asian Games, pose with Ding Ning (2nd L), chair of the Athletes' Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Mohammad Tayyab Ikram (3rd R), chairman of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games Coordination Committee, and Vinod Kumar Tiwari (1st R), deputy director general of the OCA, during the awarding ceremony at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)