As the internet feuds over rigged allegations, these 5 Physical: Asia post-show interactions highlight true sportsmanship

On November 18, Physical: Asia completed its 12-episode run on Netflix. The reality competition series featured 48 competitors from eight Asian countries, plus athletes from Australia and Turkey. They competed for the ideal physique and a ₩1 billion prize. In the finale, South Korea beat Mongolia in the last quest and claimed the title.

Team Korea in Physical: Asia press release (Image via X/@NetflixKR)

However, eliminations for Japan, Mongolia, and Australia sparked heavy online backlash. Many viewers labeled the competition “rigged” in favor of the host nation. Despite this, the off-screen banter between the contestants from Mongolia, Japan, Australia, and Korea highlights a level of genuine sportsmanship that contrasts sharply with what’s televised.

---

1. Yushin Okami praises Mongolia’s "spectacular" unity in Physical: Asia

Team Japan captain Yushin Okami praised Team Mongolia’s unity and grit in a recent Instagram post.

"The Mongolian team—their strength and character were truly remarkable. Even across nations, bonds naturally form through competition. That's the beauty of this tournament," he wrote.

Okami wrote that Mongolia kept up its level until the “end” of the tournament. He noted that their unity was "spectacular."

---

2. Eddie Williams’ "cute" dance video with Kim Min-jae

Eddie Williams, one of the teammates of Team Australia, has been sharing the most videos with other athletes, often linking up with members from different teams. Last week, he posted a lively clip with Team Korea’s Kim Min-jae, where both of them danced casually on camera.

He kept the caption simple with “Giyowo!” which translates to "cute." The video shows them moving with ease before Min-jae lifts Eddie onto his back and walks away until they disappear from view. Min-jae later dropped a comment saying, “My first dance in my life.” The interaction quickly caught attention and added to Eddie’s reputation for building friendly bonds across the competition.

---

3. Eddie Williams and Amotti's continuous playful videos

Another connection gaining attention is between Eddie Williams and Amotti. The Korean YouTuber has consistently shared multiple videos featuring Eddie. In one clip, they follow the lyrics of the song Don’t Do It and pose in sync with the track. Another video shows them walking toward each other in a soft, dreamy filter. As they meet, Eddie lifts Amotti, and Amotti holds an airplane pose in the air.

---

4. Jang Eung-sil and Nonoka Ozaki's growing training friendship outside Physical: Asia

Korea's Jang Eung-sil recently teamed up with Japanese athlete Nonoka Ozaki in two separate posts. The first video shows them training together in the gym, and she wrote,

“Can’t workout without a wrestling partner & Introducing my awesome friend @nonoka_ozaki / Can’t workout without a wrestling partner / Meet my lovely friend / I can’t exercise without a wrestling partner I’d like to introduce my wonderful friend.”

In another upload, she shared a quick moment from the same gym, adding,

“Good to see you and said hi to wrestling bridge / Pleased to meet you and said hi at the wrestling bridge I said it was nice to meet you and greeted you with a wrestling bridge.”

Both posts highlight friendly chemistry and show how their connection formed through physical training and mutual respect.

---

5. Khandsuren Gantogtokh shares surprise Tokyo meetup with Physical: Asia's Japanese athletes

Mongolian contestant Khandsuren Gantogtokh recently uploaded an Instagram Story from Tokyo showing a gathering with Japanese athletes. She shared photos with Australia’s Dom Tomato, along with Nonoka Ozaki, Soichi Hashimoto, and Katsumi Nakamura.

One of the stories featured a group clip where she wrote “Surprise” and tagged everyone in the frame. The posts indicate she is currently in Japan.

---

All 12 episodes of Physical: Asia are now available to stream on Netflix!

Edited by Shreya Jha