Asian Games 2023 feature seven esports as medal events in historic first, India part of 4

The Asian Games, a continental multi-sport event held every four years, has included 7 Esports in the 19th Asian Games 2023. 

The 19th Asian Games has been held at the China Hangzhou Esports Center in Hangzhou, China, from September 24 to October 2.

Inclusion of Esports at the Asian Games

This is the first time when the Asian Games features epsorts as a medal event.

After esports was introduced as a demonstration sport in 2018, it became the second major multi-sport event to do so after the SEA (South East Asian) Games in 2019.

There are seven esports medal events:

1. FC Online 4: Previously known as FIFA Online 4, is a free-to-play football video game that you can play online with many other players. It was created by EA Spearhead and released by Nexon.
2. Dota 2: A multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game by valve where each team has five players who control unique hero characters. The goal is to protect their own base while trying to destroy the enemy's "Ancient", a large structure within their base.Players collect experience and items to make their heroes stronger and fight other players. The first team to destroy the enemy's "Ancient" wins.
3.  League of Legends: Two teams with five players each battle each other to protect their own half of the map. Each player controls a "champion" character with unique abilities and playstyles and get stronger by earning experience points, gold, and buying items to defeat the other team. The main mode, called Summoner's Rift, is won by a team when they destroy enemy's "Nexus," a large structure within their base. 
4. Street Fighter V: Champion Edition: Street Fighter V continues the 2D fighting style of first four seasons, where two fighters use various attacks and special abilities to defeat each other.This version includes all characters, stages, and most costumes from the first four seasons.
5. Arena of Valor Asian Games Version: Arena of Valor is a mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game that closely resembles the gameplay of League of Legends,  ten players are organized into two teams to engage in combat against the opposing team.
6. Dream Three Kingdoms 2: Also a multioplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game.
7. Peace Elite Asian Games Version (PUBG Mobile):  This game refers to a specific version of the popular mobile game PUBG Mobile that is customized or designed for the Asian Games.

When E-Sports debuted in 2018 at the Asian Games, India won the Bronze but it wasn’t counted in the final medal tally.

This time, we are playing 4 E-Sports games. How many medals will we win in this edition of the Asian Games?#AsianGames #eSports #Cheer4India #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/1U30EAADat

— Oaktree Sports (@OaktreeSport) September 24, 2023

The Indian Esports Team at Asian Games 2023

India is taking part in the first four events:

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

India's progress so far

There are total five rounds for the esports event.

1. Preliminary Round
2. Elimination Round
3. Quaterfinals
4. Semifinals
5. Final

Since India is taking part in just four esports events, here are the updates so far:

Charanjot Singh and Karman Singh Tikka qualified for the Preliminary Round for FC Online 4 on September 24, but could not make it pass the Elimination bracket today.

The next matches are scheduled for September 26 for League of Legends where we will know the Preliminary round result and Street Fighter V where we will know the results for both preliminary and elimination rounds. 

On September 29, Dota 2 team will participate for the preliminary round.