E-sports in Asian Youth Games will bolster its growth, says ESFI

The inclusion of e-sports as a medal event in the third edition of the Asian Youth Games will bolster its growth, said the E-sports Federation of India (ESFI) in New Delhi on Saturday.

The Olympic Council of Asia has decided to include esports as a medal event for the first time ever in the upcoming edition of the games, to be held in Bahrain from October 22-31 later this year.

E-sports players will thus compete alongside competitors in 20 other sports across 45 member countries within the age group of 14-17 years.

“The Asian Youth Games is another prestigious platform which has now recognised Esports as a competitive discipline,” said Lokesh Suji, ESFI director and vice president of the Asian E-sports Federation in a statement.

“With Esports already being part of Asian Games as a medal sport, this move will pave the way for greater opportunities and support for grassroots and talent identification of e-sports athlete and help to build a holistic e-sports ecosystem for competitive gaming,” he added.

Indian players have recorded success in esports, finishing fifth in the 2022 Asian Games, a silver medal finish in Tekken 8 at BRICS Esports and a bronze medal in eFootball at the Asian Esports Games last year