Asian Games 2023: Esports To Breakdancing, Hangzhou Will Set The Trend For Future Of Sport

Two sports disciplines including esports, which is becoming a rage among youngsters across the globe, will make their debut at the Asian Games as Hangzhou prepares to host the quadrennial extravaganza later this month. Originally scheduled to take place last year, the continental showpiece will commence on September 23 with esports along with breakdancing making an entry into the curriculum as the Games expand to 40 sports (61 disciplines) spread over venues across six districts.

The decision to include esports and breakdancing in the Asian Games programme came as late as December 2020, while chess and cricket will return to the continental showpiece after the 2010 Guangzhou and 2014 Incheon Games respectively.

SPORTS MAKING A DEBUT IN HANGZHOU

ESPORTS: It was added as a demonstration event during the 2018 Asian Games and, following the buzz it created in Jakarta, the decision to include it as a full-fledged medal event in the Hangzhou edition was taken.

Esports mimics the experience of watching professional sporting event, except that instead of watching a physical event, spectators watch video gamers compete against each other.

Competition in seven video games -- Dota 2, FIFA Online 4, League of Legends, Arena of Valour, Dream Three Kingdoms, PUBG Mobile and Street Fighter 5 -- will take place at the China Hangzhou Esports Centre.

India is sending a strong all-male 15-member contingent that includes stalwarts such as Charanjot Singh, Krish Gupta and Ketan Goyal, among others. India's best chances of a medal are in FIFA Online 4, where they are ranked 13th in the world and third in Asia behind Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

Squad: FIFA Online 4: Charanjot Singh and Karman Singh Tikka; Street Fighter V: Mayank Prajapati