Asian Games: esports’ debut in Hangzhou is milestone for players who want gaming accepted as real sport
- It was a demonstration sport in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, but in Hangzhou will feature seven medal-winning events
- ‘Dream will eventually be realised once it gets included in the Olympics as a fully fledged medal sport,’ Asian Electronic Sports Federation official says
Esports’ debut as a medal event at the Asian Games starting this week will change attitudes and be a major step towards Olympic recognition at last, gamers and experts said.
Gaming was a demonstration sport at the 2018 Asian Games but gold medals will be up for grabs this time in Hangzhou in seven different games.
Players will battle in EA Sports FC, PUBG Mobile, Arena of Valor, Dota 2, League of Legends, Dream Three Kingdoms 2 and Street Fighter V.
For Mayank Prajapati, India’s medal hope in the Street Fighter beat ’em up game, the Asian Games opening on Saturday will mark how far he and esports have come.
He recalled how his father would beat him for sneaking off to play video games.
“I played my first game in the late 1990s at an arcade machine at a market with the two rupees I had,” the 33-year-old said.