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NDTV
4 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Indian Esports Eyes PC Gaming Growth As eFootball, Street Fighter, & Rocket League Join Medal Lineup At Asian Youth Games 2025
The 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG) is set to feature eFootball, Street Fighter, and Rocket League as official medal events, each to be contested in both boys' and girls' categories. Scheduled to be held in Bahrain from October 22 to 31, 2025, the tournament will include 24 sports disciplines, with esports making its debut as an official medal event. Open to athletes aged between 15 and 18 years as of December 31, 2025, the esports competitions will be governed by the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF). The inclusion of these PC-based esports titles presents a promising opportunity for India to develop its esports ecosystem at the grassroots level. Earlier this year, esports made significant strides nationally when the Khelo India Youth Games featured titles such as BGMI, Street Fighter 6, eFootball, and chess as demonstration sports. With continued exposure at events of this scale, young gamers from across the country now have clearer pathways to enter competitive esports. The recognition of esports as an official discipline in international multi-sport tournaments is not only boosting credibility but also establishing it as a viable career path in India. Organizations like S8UL, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, have pushed the envelope worldwide. S8UL is set to be the first and only organisation representing India at the upcoming Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, as it competes across eight different titles and further demonstrates the country's growing presence on the global esports stage. Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO, S8UL, shared his thoughts on the development, 'It's a proud moment to see esports take the global stage at the Asian Youth Games with titles like Street Fighter, eFootball, and Rocket League being officially recognised. This is just the beginning for the players, community and for the future of competitive gaming. As someone who's grown with this industry, seeing young athletes now get this platform at such a prestigious multi-sport event feels incredibly special, it's history in the making. This recognition will inspire a whole new generation of talent and help shape the path ahead for esports not just in India, but across Asia.' The fact that all three games featured at AYG 2025 are PC-based titles marks an important development for India, where mobile gaming has historically dominated. Momentum for PC gaming is steadily growing, with key players investing in infrastructure and accessibility. CyberPowerPC India, which entered the country last year, has been at the forefront of this movement. The company recently partnered with Indian esports organization Orangutan to power their state-of-the-art gaming facility, ApeCity, with high-performance PCs. "It's exciting to see prominent PC titles take centre stage at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025, a clear sign that competitive gaming in Asia is evolving in the right direction. Globally, PC has always been a benchmark for esports, and this moment places Asia firmly on that map. For India, this is an opportunity to double down on building a more inclusive and performance-ready grassroots ecosystem. By creating accessible spaces like our PC installation at Ape City, we're helping young gamers experience top-tier hardware and realize their potential without the barriers. This milestone isn't just validation; it's motivation to keep growing the next generation of esports athletes." said Vishal Parekh, Chief Operating Officer of CyberPowerPC India. The Asian Youth Games isn't the only platform where esports is gaining prominence. Esports will also feature at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, scheduled for next year, where 11 esports titles will be official medal events. India had earlier competed in four titles at the Asian Games 2022, and the country is now gearing up for a stronger showing in its next campaign. Pravan Parikh, Co-Founder & Product Lead of Dirtcube Interactive LLP, which launched India's first-of-its-kind gaming backend platform Specter, shares his perspective on what this means for India, 'The inclusion of esports at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 is a landmark moment for young gamers in India. It brings structure and recognition to a dream that many aspiring players have long held. Crucially, this move gives PC gaming a significant boost in a market where mobile has historically been dominant, opening up fresh opportunities for skill development, talent discovery, and long-term career growth. It's an encouraging sign that esports is finally being embraced as a serious discipline within the larger sporting ecosystem.' As India prepares to compete at the AYG 2025, the recognition of esports alongside traditional sports is becoming increasingly mainstream. With growing investment, improved infrastructure, and stronger national representation, India is on the path to becoming not just a participant, but a serious contender in global esports. Listen to the latest songs, only on
Daily Tribune
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
All Systems Go: Bahrain Confirms Full Readiness for Asian Youth Games 2025
The Countdown Is On At a press conference held yesterday afternoon at The Art Hotel & Resort, top officials from the Bahrain Asian Youth Games Organizing Committee (BAYGOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) reaffirmed the Kingdom's full readiness to host the 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG), which will take place from October 22 to 31. The event followed a high-level Technical Delegates meeting on Wednesday, where logistical, technical, and operational plans were thoroughly reviewed and greenlit. 'This is a tournament that usually takes four to five years to prepare,' Faris Al Kooheji told TDT. 'But with the OCA's support and our team's dedication, we've managed to pull it together in record time. Not only are we hosting—we're competing to finish in the Top 5.' Forging Olympic Futures Vinod Tiwari, Deputy Director General of the OCA, emphasized the tournament's long-term significance, calling it 'sustainable games for the youth of Asia.' 'This event will give rise to the future champions of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics and Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games,' he said. 'It's a springboard for Asia's next generation.' Record Numbers, Global Reach The AYG will bring together over 2,000 athletes aged 14–17 from 45 countries, competing across 24 sports and 31 disciplines—from athletics and swimming to judo, boxing, and the debut of Esports, a reflection of the changing landscape of youth engagement. Yousif Duaij Muhroofi, Chairman of BAYGOC, praised the coordination between teams and readiness across all sectors. 'Preparations are progressing extremely well, and every department is functioning as one unit,' he said. A Platform That Goes Beyond Sport Ahmed AbdulGhaffar, Deputy Chair of BAYGOC, captured the spirit of the event: 'This competition is a celebration of potential. The youth of Asia deserve a world-class platform, and Bahrain is proud to be that stage.' The Bottom Line
Daily Tribune
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Powers Ahead in Asian Youth Games 2025 Preparations
TDT | Manama With just five months to go until the curtain rises on the 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG) 2025, Bahrain took another confident stride forward as a high-level Technical Delegation (TD) meeting was held yesterday to ensure all systems are ready to go. Led by Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Deputy Director General Vinod Tiwari, the session brought together key stakeholders from the Bahrain Asian Youth Games Organizing Committee (BAYGOC) to fine-tune logistics for the October 22–31 spectacle. 'We're hoping to have a very successful Asian Youth Games in Bahrain,' said Tiwari. 'We hope to mainly educate the kids because there are minors with lots of potential.' A Turn of Destiny Originally awarded to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the 3rd edition of the AYG found a new home in Bahrain following delays in infrastructure in the original host city. In December 2024, the OCA officially chose Bahrain as the new host, impressed by its successful 2024 ISF Gymnasiade and world class venues like Khalifa Sports City, Bahrain International Circuit, and the Royal Golf Club. Strategic Meeting Sets the Stage Yesterday's TD meeting brought together a powerhouse of officials, including BAYGOC Chairman Yousif Duaij Muhoorfi and Deputy Chair Ahmed Abdulghaffar. The agenda covered critical touchpoints: athlete accommodation, accreditation systems, transportation, and anti-doping measures. The Bahrain Olympic Committee later confirmed that every department is well on track to deliver a seamless event. Tiwari, a familiar figure in the Asian sports circuit, emphasized the importance of synchronization across departments, echoing his leadership during past events such as AIMAG 6 in Bangkok.
