Indian Esports Eyes Growth As PC Games Join Asian Youth Games 2025 Medal Lineup

Last Updated:June 02, 2025, 12:56 IST

Esports was announced as an official medal event at the Asian Youth Games, which will take place in Bahrain from October 22 to 31, 2025

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) will feature eFootball, Street Fighter, and Rocket League as official medal events in both boys’ and girls’ categories. Scheduled to take place in Bahrain from 22 to 31 October 2025, the tournament will include 24 sports disciplines, with esports making its debut as an official medal event. Open to athletes aged 15 to 18 years as of 31 December 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.

Recognising esports as an official discipline in international multi-sport tournaments boosts its credibility and establishes it as a viable career path in India. Organisations like S8UL, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, have pushed the boundaries worldwide. S8UL will be the first and only organisation representing India at the upcoming Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, competing across eight different titles and further demonstrating the country’s growing presence on the global esports stage.

Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL, commented on the development, saying, “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." He believes this is just the beginning for the players, the community, and the future of competitive gaming.

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 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 organisation Orangutan to power their state-of-the-art gaming facility, ApeCity, with high-performance PCs.

Vishal Parekh, Chief Operating Officer of CyberPowerPC India, expressed excitement about prominent PC titles taking centre stage at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025, viewing it as a sign that competitive gaming in Asia is evolving in the right direction. He emphasised that creating accessible spaces like their PC installation at ApeCity helps young gamers experience top-tier hardware and realise their potential.

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 is now gearing up for a stronger showing in its next campaign.

Pravan Parikh, Co-Founder and Product Lead of Dirtcube Interactive LLP, which launched India’s first-of-its-kind gaming backend platform Specter, views the inclusion of esports at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 as a landmark moment for young gamers in India. He believes it brings structure and recognition to a dream that many aspiring players have long held and sees it as 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.

Ritayan Basu

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov...Read More

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov...

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