The 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain will include esports as a medal event, marking a significant milestone for competitive gaming in Asia.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has announced that esports will be included as a medal discipline in the 3rd Asian Youth Games, scheduled to take place in Bahrain from October 22 to 31, 2025.
Esports Joins the 3rd Asian Youth Games
This marks the first time esports will be featured in the Asian Youth Games, allowing young athletes aged 14 to 17 from 45 member countries to compete alongside peers from 20 other sports disciplines.
Here are the other sports that are part of the Asian Youth Games 2025 lineup:
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Equestrian
- Esports
- FUTSAL
- GOLF
- Handball
- Judo
- Jujitsu
- Mixed Martial Arts
- Cycling (ROAD)
- Swimming
- Table Tennis
- TAEKWONDO
- TRIATHLON
- WRESTLING
- WEIGHTLIFTING
- Kabaddi
- Volleyball
- Teqball
New year begins with another fantastic news for the Indian Esports fans#esports #indianesports #olympics #oca #AsianyYouthGames @AsianGamesOCA @AESF_Official @mansukhmandviya @khadseraksha @PTUshaOfficial @kalyanchaubey @WeAreTeamIndia @IndiaSports @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/k5Cc28mC8E
— Esports Federation of India (@esfindia) January 4, 2025
Impact on Indian Esports Development
The Esports Federation of India (ESFI) has expressed optimism that this inclusion will serve as a catalyst for the growth of competitive gaming across the country.
Lokesh Suji, Director of ESFI and Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF), stated, "The Asian Youth Games is another prestigious platform which has now recognized esports as a competitive discipline. With esports already being part of Asian Games as a medal sport, this move will pave the way for greater opportunities and support for grassroots and talent identification of esports athletes and help to build a holistic esports ecosystem for competitive gaming."
India has been making notable strides in the international esports arena, with achievements including a fifth-place finish in League of Legends at the 2022 Asian Games, a silver medal in Tekken 8 at the BRICS Esports Championship, and a bronze medal in eFootball at the Asian Esports Games 2024.
New year begins with another fantastic news for the Indian Esports fans#esports #indianesports #olympics #oca #AsianYouthGames #bahrain@mansukhmandviya @khadseraksha @PTUshaOfficial @kalyanchaubey @WeAreTeamIndia @IndiaSports @Media_SAI @AESF_Official @AsianGamesOCA @esfindia pic.twitter.com/fVmBVWlNLz
— Lokesh Suji (@dAwesomeNinja) January 4, 2025
Well, the recognition of esports in events like the Asian Youth Games is expected to inspire a new generation of gamers and contribute to the development of a structured esports ecosystem. As esports continues to gain prominence, initiatives at the grassroots level will be crucial in identifying and nurturing talent, ensuring that countries like India can compete effectively on the international stage.
So, the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain represents a significant opportunity for young esports athletes to showcase their skills and for nations to demonstrate their commitment to the evolving landscape of competitive sports.