Esports will be an official medal sport at the Asian Games in 2026

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee (AINAGOC) has officially declared esports as one of the medal sports in the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

From September 23 to October 8, India will compete in four different titles - DOTA 2, FIFA 22, Street Fighter V, and League of Legends - as an official medal sport at the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou. The inclusion of Esports in the 20th Asian Games will definitely inspire Indian Esports athletes to pursue their passion professionally.

"The decision and announcement by both the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee (AINAGOC) to include esports as a medal event at the 20th Asian Games, following the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, is warmly embraced by ESFI," said Lokesh Suji, Director of Esports Federation of India (ESFI) and Vice President of Asian Esports Federation (AESF). With this news, we must move quickly to grow our infrastructure, teaching programs, training facilities, and overall awareness within the esports ecosystem. Furthermore, we must give our athletes with top-tier equipment and resources, allowing them to deliver their greatest performances on international stages. We urge the entire country to embrace this great advancement."

"The inclusion of a diverse range of titles in the Asian Games not only demonstrates the diverse nature of Esports but also highlights the various dimensions of skill, strategy, and teamwork displayed by the athletes, delivering a comprehensive experience for spectators," he added.

"The Esports industry and its passionate community have long sought recognition, and the recent announcement clearly demonstrates the significant progress made by the esports ecosystem on international platforms." The official acknowledgment of Esports as a medal sport boosts and increases the status of esports competitors, putting them on par with mainstream sports figures.

We are hopeful that our team, S8ul and 8bit, will be able to compete and demonstrate their skills in numerous esports titles at the Asian Games 2026. Furthermore, this announcement confirms that both endemic and non-endemic businesses are actively looking for ways to engage with gamers today and are excited about participating in the Esports ecosystem," stated Animesh Agarwal, Co-Founder and CEO of 8Bit Creatives & S8UL Esports.

"One small step for esports, one giant leap for gaming!" The inclusion of esports as a medal sport is not only fantastic news in and of itself, but it also paves the way for other similar competitions to accept esports as a viable option. "I hope this upward trend continues and we can eventually see Esports on a scale comparable to traditional sports," stated Rohit Agarwal, Founder and Director of Alpha Zegus.