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  • Indian Esports Contingent at Asian Games 2022: Schedule and overview of all four titles

    Indian Esports Contingent at Asian Games 2022: Schedule and overview of all four titles

    Mumbai: Esports is going to make its debut at the Asian Games 2023 as a proper medal event, while earlier in 2018 it was there as a demonstration title. The Asian Games 2022, initially scheduled for September last year, will now be held from 23 September to 8 October 2023. The seven official Esports events at the tournament are:

    1. Arena of Valor Asian Games Version

    2. Dota 2

    3. Dream Three Kingdoms 2

    4. FIFA Online 4

    5. League of Legends

    6. Peace Elite Asian Games Version

    7. Street Fighter V: Champion Edition

    The Esports event of the Hangzhou Asian Games will be held in China Hangzhou Esports Centre from 24 September to 2 October and the athletes will compete for seven gold medals.

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

    Here is an introduction to the titles:

    FIFA Online 4

    Game type: Single-player

    Dates: 24 to 27 September

    Format: All games including the final will be played in the best-of-three (BO3) format.

    Description: FIFA Online 4 is a virtual football game where players control teams made up of real-world football players. It is similar to playing a real football match, but on a console where you control the players and their actions. Two players play against each other in a match that lasts almost 15 minutes with a halftime break in between and the player with the most goals scored wins. Players can select any players who are currently playing or legends from the past to play in their customized team. The player has to make multiple strategies for different formations and select the right players to defend, pass, and attack with precision in order to prevail. Players have fixed ratings given by the game’s publishers according to their performances in real life and the pace of a player is the key factor as everyone usually prefers faster players to help them win.

    Charanjot Singh and Karman Singh Tikka will be the two Indian representatives in FIFA Online 4.

    League of Legends

    Game type: Team-based

    Dates: 25 to 29 September

    Format: The group stage games will be conducted in the best-of-one (BO1) format while the quarterfinals, semi-finals, and final will be played in the best-of-three (BO3) format.

    Description: League of Legends is a team-based strategy game where each player controls a powerful fantasy character. Two teams battle against each other across a map and work together to defeat their opponents by taking down their base. The first team to destroy a structure known as the Nexus, lying at the back of each team’s base, wins the match. There are five positions in a team as follows:

    Top: Dominates the top lane, excelling in 1v1 battles, and can teleport across the map.

    Jungler: Roams the jungle, gathering gold and XP, and ganks to create 2v1 situations.

    Mid: Holds the central lane, favors powerful champions like Aatrox, and deals heavy damage.

    ADC: Ranged, consistent damage dealers, they grow in power and can become key players.

    Support: A utility role that roams, using crowd control to disrupt enemies and empower allies.

    Players who win gold on the map can use it to buy items from a shop located at the fountain. Items include everything from armor to magic resistance, attack damage to speed, and ability power. Players can carry six items at a time.

    Akshaj Shenoy leads the Indian team, and Samarth Arvind Trivedi, Mihir Ranjan, Aditya Selvaraj, Aakash Shandilya, and Sanindhya Malik are part of the squad. A total of five players will play in the tournament with one substitute.

    Street Fighter V: Champion Edition

    Game Type: Single-player

    Dates: 26 to 28 September

    Format: All games including the final will be played in the best-of-three (BO3) format.

    Description: Street Fighter V is a one-on-one fighting game where players choose a unique character with special moves and abilities. They face off against each other in exciting battles, much like a martial arts tournament. Players can select any character they like out of 40 available which has its own abilities. They have to build combos, and strategies to master attack and defense in order to defeat their opponents. A Street Fighter V match usually lasts between one-two minutes and comes to an end when one of the players defeats their opponents in two rounds.

    Mayank Prajapati and Ayan Biswas are the two Indian Street Fighters who will be competing for the country at the Asian Games 2022.

    DOTA 2

    Game Type: Team-based

    Dates: 29 September to 2 October

    Format: The group stage games will be conducted in the best-of-one (BO1) format while the quarterfinals, semi-finals, and final will be played in the best-of-three (BO3) format.

    Description: DOTA 2, which stands for Defense of the Ancients 2, is another team-based strategy game. There are two teams of five players each who are tasked with destroying the enemy’s Ancient, which is the central structure in their base, and protecting their own. Players in the game take control of a hero — each with their own unique set of attributes, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses — and must team up to get strong enough to take down their ancient. An average DOTA 2 match lasts between 30-40 minutes. A Lane is one of three paths connecting the two Ancients and there are three lanes: Top lane, which runs along the left and top edges of the map, middle or mid lane, where the lane creeps clash in the river and Bottom or bot, which runs along the bottom and right edges of the map. There are five main roles in Dota 2 as follows:

    Carry: Responsible for dealing as much damage to enemy heroes and structures as possible, carrying their team to victory in the process.

    Midlane: Controlling the middle lane and expected to move around to help other lanes where needed

    Offlane: Staying alive in the offlane and farming as much gold and experience as possible, the toughest role

    Soft Support: Pressuring the enemy Carry in the laning phase and focus on harassing, poking, and being a nuisance.

    Hard Support: Assisting their Carry and protecting them at all costs

    Darshan Bata captains the Indian team, and Krish Gupta, Abhishek Yadav, Ketan Goyal, and Shubham Goli are his teammates. Similar to League of Legends, five players will play for the team.

  • Celebrating the rise of Esports, India’s new-age sporting phenomenon

    Celebrating the rise of Esports, India’s new-age sporting phenomenon

    Mumbai: Esports, the newest addition to the sports ecosystem is disrupting traditional norms and making waves all across the country. Once considered a niche pastime, Esports has transformed into a global phenomenon that is reshaping the traditional sports landscape in numerous ways. As the nation gears up to celebrate National Sports Day, let’s dive into the meteoric rise of this new-age sporting phenomenon.

    For any sport to gain recognition and credibility amongst the general population, it is essential to achieve significant success at major international tournaments and Esports fulfils that criterion. With remarkable bronze medals in the DOTA 2 title at the Commonwealth Games 2022, and also in the Hearthstone title at the 2018 Asian Games where Esports was a demonstration event under its belt, India has already marked its presence on the global Esports map.

    Now, the country is all set to battle it out in four different titles – DOTA 2, FIFA, Street Fighter, and League of Legends at the upcoming Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou where Esports is making its debut as a full-fledged medal sport. Regarding this, the Sports Ministry has also given its official approval for the 15-member contingent to represent the nation at the prestigious tournament which is a monumental step towards marking the growing significance of considering Esports as a mainstream sport.

    FIFA athlete of India a distinguished Charanjot Singh,  recently secured top seeding in the South Asian region seeding event for the Asian Games 2022. Speaking ahead of the biggest competition of his life yet, the athlete said, “I never thought I would be representing India in Esports at such a major international tournament. Having started with local tournaments it gives me immense joy to witness this rapid rise of Esports in the country. I am happy that people have understood that Esports is just like any other sport as it requires physical reflexes, strong mental strength, dedication, practice, and strategy. Every young kid with a controller in his hand will now be encouraged instead of being scolded.”

    While Esports gained the stature of a sport when the government officially recognized it as a multi-sport event, its legitimacy amongst the general public was enhanced when the government made amendments to the Information and Technology Act to establish a clear distinction between Esports and online gaming.

    Talking about the inspiring journey of Esports from being considered a hobby to an official sport,  the Asian Esports Federation (AESF) director of the esports federation of India and vice president Lokesh Suji stated, “Within a year, Esports has transcended the perception of entertainment to reach the level of competitive excellence. We are extremely thankful to the government for separating Esports from the umbrella of online gaming and is not considered to be a part of iGaming, rummy, gambling, etc. With our talented athletes striving for a medal in this year’s Asian Games and the official inclusion of Esports as a medal sport for Asian Games 2026 as well, it will help in educating the general public about its significance even more. Looking at the impressive growth trajectory of the ecosystem, we eagerly await its flourishment in the country.”

    Along with major international tournaments, Esports has also made its way into mainstream media. The reach of competitive gaming has extended beyond Esports dedicated platforms, with established sports networks like Star Sports and streaming giants like JioCinema realizing the potential of the sector by broadcasting Esports events to a wider audience.

    Sharing his thoughts on the mainstreaming of Esports, S8UL founder and CEO of 8Bit creatives and co-founder Animesh Agarwal expressed, “The transition from online streaming platforms to renowned sports networks signifies a noteworthy shift in the perception of Esports, positioning it on the same level as traditional sports. As Esports tournaments become a familiar sight in households across the country, there will be a surge in interest and participation, leading to a larger pool of potential talent that we can guide, support, and represent. Additionally, with Esports solidifying its mainstream status, the interest from non-endemic brands looking to establish a presence and be a part of the gaming community will also skyrocket which is beneficial for the overall growth of the sector.”

    Esports getting the status of a mainstream sport has not only led to an upsurge in its popularity and cultural acceptance but has also created a solid foundation at the grassroots level for gamers to take it up as a viable career option.

    ScoutOP also known as Tanmay Singh who is one of the leading gamers in the country said, “As an Esports athlete, I feel more validated and motivated to grind than ever before. The recognition on different platforms like TV and major streaming services makes me realize that we’re part of a rapidly evolving industry that is capturing the hearts of people across the nation. There has never been a better time to be an Esports athlete, and I am genuinely thrilled to contribute to the ongoing gaming revolution in India.”

    According to the “Windows of Opportunity” report on India’s media and entertainment industry by FICCI-EY, the number of Esports players across all competitive level games in India increased from 600,000 in 2021 to 1 million in 2022, and it is expected to reach 2.5 million in 2023.

    As Esports continues to flourish, its landscape is evolving as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and Web3 gaming are pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Esports tournaments are being conducted in stadiums, degrees, and courses for Esports in educational institutes are becoming common, and even states are building their own Esports academies. So, it is safe to say that the future of video gaming in India is exciting.