What To Expect From Team India In Asian Games In Esports?

What many deemed a distant possibility has now become reality as esports will now be an official medal sport in Asian Games in 2023. The Asian sporting event will be held in Hangzhou Esports Centre in China from 24^th September to 2^nd October. There are already 15 competitors from India that will be sent to compete in the esports event. These athletes will be competing for 7 gold medals in the upcoming Asian Games.

There will be seven game titles that have been included in the Asian Games 2023 esports line-up. However, the Indian contingent will only be competing in four of the games. These games are DOTA 2, FIFA Online 4, Street Fighter V: Champion Edition, and League of Legends. Check out the esports schedule below.

Asian Games 2023 Esports Schedule:

1. Arena of Valor Asian Games Version – 24^th to 26^th September
2. FIFA Online 4 – 24^th to 27^th September
3. League of Legends – 25^th to 29^th September
4. Street Fighter V: Champion Edition – 26^th to 28^th September
5. Peace Elite Asian Games Version – 27^th September to 1^st October
6. DOTA 2 – 29^th September to 2^nd October

Indian Contingent Line Up:

Here’s a list of the 15 players that will be competing for the gold medal in their respective games.

1. DOTA 2 – Krish Gupta, Ketan Goyal, Darshan Bata, Shubham Goli, Abhishek Yadav
2. League of Legends – Sanindhya Malik, Samarth Arvind Trivedi, Aakash Shandilya, Akshaj Shenoy, Mihir Ranjan, Aditya Selvaraj
3. Streat Fighter V: Champion Edition – Ayan Biswas, Mayank Prajapati
4. FIFA Online 4 – Karman Singh Tikka, Charanjot Singh

When the players heard the news that they would be representing India in the coming Asian Games 2023, they were elated to say the least. For the players, months and even years of hard work finally brought them closer to possibly winning a gold for their country.

Shubham Goli aka ‘Madness,’ one of the players on the team for DOTA 2 said, “We did not expect esports to be added (to the Asian Games). Even though we are used to going to different cities to compete, in this case you are competing under your country’s name. It’s impossible to ignore that we are representing the nation and we have to respect that opportunity.”

Chosen as a part of the FIFA Online 4 line up, Chanranjot Singh ranks fourth in the FIFAe global series ranking for South Asia. When asked about his mindset going in as a contender, Singh said, “While I hope to win a medal, I also am aware that anything can happen.”

While this may be the first time esports has officially been included as a medal event in Asian Games, it has been a part of the sporting event as a demonstration event in past years. Which is why Tirth Mehta clinched a bronze medal for the country in the game Hearthstone back in 2018 Asian Games.

The teams are doing everything they can to prepare for the event. Akshaj Shenoy who is leading the League of Legends team, makes sure that the squad is putting in good hours of practice by setting up schedules and delegating duties and making important decisions. “Since it’s a team game, co-ordination matters more than individual rank,” said Shenoy. “As we have to sit for long durations, we need mental prowess over other player, along with hand and eye coordination.”

With the games just a few more days away, the teams seem to be on their toes, taking every chance to get better at their game.