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Across the country, young professional gamers are going head to head in the national esports championship to represent India in the upcoming Asian Games 2022. The sport will be a medal game for the first time in the Asian Games this year. Classified into - Real Time Shooter, Fighting, First Person Shooter and Multiplayer Online Battle Arena - these games are proving to be the next step in the evolution of sports.

The Esports Federation of India has shared that there are over 300 million gamers across the country, and the number is only growing. In the Asian Games 2018, where esports was included as a demonstration game, India's Tirth Mehta won a bronze medal for Hearthstone. Names like Defense of The Ancients (DOTA 2), League of Legends (LOL) CounterStrike, Call of Duty, FIFA, Hearthstone and Vainglory might curdle the blood of disciplinarian parents, but the times they-are-a-changin'.

We speak to a few professional and passionate gamers to understand what this Asian Games addition would mean to the community and the sport.

Improved profile for the sport

Sat Mayekar at a competition

Sat Mayekar, professional gamer, marketing specialist in gaming
A gamer for nearly 15 years, Mayekar tells us that professional gaming is no child's play. "Every country has a local qualifier, followed by national and international tournaments," he says. The last decade has seen these tournaments grow more specialised and competitive. Without an India-specific slot in most cases, Indian gamers have to compete with the rest of Asia. The addition of esports into Asian Games this year, Mayekar adds, is a big boost. "It raises the profile of the game. It helps attract sponsors and publishers to the region; facilitates the growth of the game." Mayekar is preparing for the Valorant Conquerors Championship this year, but still does not see a superstar in the field. He explained that there is still no superstar like Virat Kohli or KL Rahul that sponsors will swarm to in the sport. But with the latest development, he hopes the scenario willl change. "Parents will perhaps give gamers more of a chance if it is a medal winning sport at this level." With major tournaments offering close to R50 Lakh to R1 crore in prize money, the potential is always there, he concludes.

Still a long way to go

Brent Fernandes, business manager and avid gamer
A PlayStation enthusiast, Fernandes has been participating in local tourneys for the last five-six years. The addition of the sport to the Asian Games list, he says, is a huge win. He said adding, "While physical sports have always been at such events, esports has rarely been promoted." Despite the misgivings about PUBG, Fernandes informs us that the biggest games in India are Call of Duty, Free Fire, Minecraft, DOTA or FIFA. The only problem is the money. "It is very expensive to buy a gaming PC or a gaming console. Consoles begin from R 40,000 and gaming rigs can burn a hole in your pocket," he explains. It is not the most viable option for an Indian middle-class family, especially when it could distract children from their books. Sponsors are interested in the growing market and are game, but there is a lot that needs to be done. "You try and make the most of commercial opportunities through YouTube or Facebook Watch. But you cannot expect someone to quit their jobs and earn big money through esports right away; that is far from
reality," he admits.

Needs a change in perception

Rakesh Unnithan, designer and artist, professional gamer
For Unnithan, the inclusion of esports in the Asian Games is a validation for hard-core gamers of their struggle. "India has always had good talents in terms of competitive gaming, but the sport was restricted to local cafes and college competitions for a long time," Unnithan says. The inclusion as a medal winning sport is tacit approval of a new generational opportunity. "Who knows, maybe some leagues like IPL for gaming might open up in India too," he exclaims. While there are many little leagues across the country, there is an issue of perception with the sport. He explains, "We have a strong belief in this country that if something is fun, then it can't be a profession." Gaming has been unfairly blamed for many things from the dark web to gun violence in the United States. "Yet, it is no different from any other sport which requires devotion, practice and maintaining a healthy lifestyle," he adds. While the world is fast upgrading to the sport, India is only now latching on. "I only hope the society would accept that this skill is a gift and a viable career option which can ensure a future," he hopes. He says, "Gaming when taken as a profession has its own norms of professionalism. It is always about skill and not about how expensive your machine is."

Winners at the National Esport Championships, India (April 18 - 26 2022)

. FIFA 22 - Charanjot Singh and Karman Singh Tikka
. Street Fighter V - Mayank Prajapati and Ayan Biswas
. Hearthstone - Shikhar Choudhary and Karthik Varma
. League of Legends - Team Temple of Kings (comprising captain Akshaj Shenoy, Samarth Arvind Trivedi, Mihir Ranjan, Aditya Selvaraj, Aakash Shandilya and Sanindhya Malik)
. DOTA 2 - Team Whoops (captain Moin Ejaz, Krish, Abhishek, Ketan, Darshan and Shubham)