Taj Izrin wins Malaysia’s first Asian Games e-sports gold

Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira has made history by winning Malaysia’s first-ever e-sports gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. Competing in the Gran Turismo 7 (GT7) event at the Aichi Sky Expo in Japan, the 27-year-old athlete secured the championship with a total of 36 points across three races.

Izrin’s performance gained significant social media attention due to his relaxed demeanor, as he competed barefoot while operating the simulator pedals. Despite his casual appearance, he maintained high performance, finishing second in the first two races before winning the final decisive race by a margin of over four seconds to secure the gold.

Naif Abdulhakim Alfaleh of Saudi Arabia took the silver medal with 25 points, while Kim Young Chan of South Korea earned the bronze. The victory marks a milestone for Malaysia and highlights the debut of Gran Turismo 7 as a medal event in the Asian Games.