Esports industry pins hopes on Asian Games for player growth in India

Esports player Mayank Prajapati

Esports as a medal event in the Asian Games this year is raising hopes of the industry in terms of player growth.

Esports players touched the 10-lakh mark in 2022 from 6 lakh a year back. The player count is expected to reach 25 lakh this year, according to the FICCI-EY 2023 report. The number of Esports teams are estimated to grow from 1.1 lakh last year to 1.25 lakh in 2023.

"Since the announcement of Esports as a medal event in Asian Games, I have seen a lot of people join the game, especially the new version of Street Fighter. The last tournament that I was part of, I came fourth and two new players were at the top. The new guys (players) are upping their game. Because of Asian Games, they have their targets set. And there is nothing bigger than representing your country in the game you love," Mayank Prajapati, representing India in the Street Fighter V game in the Asian Games, told Moneycontrol.

In 2018, Esports was introduced in the Asian Games as a demonstration title and Tirth Mehta from India had won bronze in Hearthstone.

Also read: Asian Games 2023: PT Usha expects India to better 2018 medal tally as cricket makes return

"The inclusion of Esports as a medal event in competitions like these holds significant importance for both aspiring and established Esports players. Achieving recognition on the international stage carries immense value for athletes, and the equal treatment of Esports is a major milestone for our community. From the moment young gamers pick up a controller, their dreams often revolve around competing at the highest level, and I believe there's no higher stage than this," said Charanjot Singh, FIFA Player, GodLike Esports, who is representing India at the Asian Games.

Asian Games, a shot in the arm

He added that Asian Games holds great significance for all budding Esports players. "I hope to see a continuous influx of new talent representing India in various Esports disciplines."

The biggest shot in the arm is that Asian Games has legitimised Esports, said Lokesh Suji, director, the Esports Federation of India (ESFI). "There was no support from parents earlier but things have changed now in terms of mindset. From demonstration event to now, there is improvement in infrastructure as well," he added.

Also read: Government officially recognises eSports as part of multi-sport event

The support from government, ESFI has been really good, said Prajapati. "They have arranged a coach (from the US) for us. I had asked for practice laptop 2-3 days back and ESFI sent it in one day and it was the top model. We met Kalyan Chaubey ( CEO Indian Olympic Association) and we had asked him for a boot camp with high end gaming chairs, consoles and fibre connection. And he had said he will take care of everything."

Singh said that the preparations for the Asian Games have been progressing smoothly. "I've been training in China for the past few days, and we have a dedicated three-hour practice session every day."

Impact on medal count

While the Esports players are all set to perform in Asian Games, India is not competing in some of the Esports titles.

Titles including Arena of Valor and Peace Elite AGV which is a special version of PUBG Mobile developed by Tencent for the tournament are banned in India while the title Dream Three Kingdoms 2 is not available in the country.

Also read: What's new at Asian Games 2023: Open-water marathon swimming, breakdance, more esports

There are a total of seven official Esports events at the tournament including Arena of Valor Asian Games Version, Dota 2, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, FIFA Online 4, League of Legends, Peace Elite Asian Games Version and Street Fighter V: Champion Edition.

India, however, will be participating in four of the seven titles including DOTA 2, FIFA Online 4, League of Legends, and Street Fighter V: Champion Edition.

Prajapati said that medal count will get affected because three games in which Indian players could compete are banned in the country.

"There are certain titles in which the Indian team is not taking part. This could potentially impact the overall performance of the Indian team, as increased participation usually translates to more opportunities to secure medals," Singh said.

Also read: 9 days till Asian Games 2023: What does it take in the gym to be Neeraj Chopra?

In 2021, there were 13 prominent Esports titles which dropped down to 10 last year when games like PUBG (PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds) and Free Fire were banned in India. The bans impacted prize money as well which dropped to Rs 15 crore from Rs 22 crore in 2021.

"The bans do not diminish the determination of the current players to give their best and strive for medals in their respective categories. I am hopeful that as more emerging players enter the scene in the future, our country will enjoy broader representation in Esports. This would ensure that all games have dedicated Esports athletes, eliminating any gaps and allowing us to achieve 100 percent representation in Esports," Singh said.