The Asian Games 2023 is being held in Hangzhou, China, and this time, esports has earned its place alongside traditional sports. India will be sending a talented roster of esports athletes to participate in four out of the seven esports events. Despite only recently gaining significant attention, the Indian esports scene has already tasted success at the Commonwealth Games 2022, and now, the athletes are determined to create an even bigger success story at the Asian Games 2023.
Esports Events and Indian Representation:
The Indian esports roster will compete in Street Fighter V, Dota 2, League of Legends, and FIFA. Unfortunately, the country does not have any players for the other titles featured at the Asian Games 2023, namely Arena of Valor, PUBG Mobile, and Dream Three Kingdoms 2. The first two games are banned in the country, while the last one is unavailable. Despite this limitation, the Indian athletes participating in the mentioned events are ready to showcase their skills and make the nation proud.
FIFA Online 4 Contingent:
Charanjot Singh and Karman Singh Tikka, both well-known names in the FIFA circuit, will represent India in the game. They will participate in a seeding event in Seoul, South Korea, from August 2 to 6, aiming to secure favorable seedings for the tournament. Both players have proven their mettle in the national esports championships and are determined to excel at the Asian Games 2023.
Street Fighter V Contingent:
Mayank Prajapati and Ayan Biswas, two exceptional Fighting Games athletes from India, have been chosen to compete in Street Fighter V. Mayank emerged victorious in the National Esports Championships, where he displayed incredible skills, defeating his compatriot Ayan in the process. Now, both players are eager to make their mark at the Asian Games.
League of Legends Contingent:
The Indian League of Legends team secured their spot after defeating Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan during the seeding event held in Macau. The team comprises of Akshaj Shenoy (captain), Samarth Arvind Trivedi, Mihir Ranjan, Aditya Selvaraj, Aakash Shandilya, and Sanindhya Malik. Having maintained an undefeated streak during the qualifiers, they are geared up to continue their impressive performance at the Asian Games 2023.
Dota 2 Contingent:
The Indian Dota 2 roster includes Darshan Bata (captain), Krish Gupta, Abhishek Yadav, Ketan Goyal, and Shubham Goli. Each member possesses immense talent, but the team faced some challenges with the Esports Federation of India after the Commonwealth Games 2022. Former team captain Moin Ejaz was excluded from the squad, and though the reason remains unclear, it is believed that conflicts with the ESFI played a role in his exclusion. Nevertheless, the current lineup is determined to overcome any obstacles and strive for victory.
Looking Forward:
The Asian Games 2023 is set to commence on September 23 and conclude on October 8. However, some contingents will be involved in seeding events in their respective categories starting in August. It will be intriguing to see how the Indian esports athletes fare against teams from other nations. With their dedication, skill, and determination, the Indian esports contingent is geared up to make the country proud and add more glory to the nation’s esports journey.
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