Choi Ji-woon wins gold in boys' dinghy at Asian Games

South Korean sailor Choi Ji-woon won the gold medal in the boys' dinghy event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Competing at the Gamagori Kaiyo Yacht Harbor in Japan, the 15-year-old secured first place with a total of 25 points after 12 races.

Choi demonstrated significant resilience, overcoming a mid-competition slump where he fell to fourth place during the 8th through 10th races. Despite delays caused by weak winds on the final day, he regained momentum by finishing first in the 11th race and second in the 12th race.

Choi finished in a tie with Singapore's Koh Ian, both with 25 points. However, Choi was awarded the gold medal via the tiebreaker rule, which prioritizes higher individual race rankings. Hong Kong's Cheng De Villamore Salgado Thiago took the bronze medal with 27 points. This victory marks South Korea's first gold medal in a youth sailing category at the Asian Games in 12 years.