Nepali Esports Players Out of Asian Games Due to Administrative Dispute

Kathmandu. Nepali e-sports players who dreamed of reaching Aichi-Nagoya, Japan for the 20th Asian Games after passing difficult qualifiers, are on the verge of being excluded from the competition due to administrative disputes. The players, stating that they have proven their qualifications on the field but are losing opportunities due to the decision of government bodies, held a press conference on Friday demanding answers from the government. In the Asian Games e-sports qualifier held in Vietnam in June, the Nepali team secured a place in the final competition by achieving seventh position among 23 nations. Only the top eight teams were eligible to qualify for the Asian Games. With the historic success of Nepal in PUBG Mobile, 12 players including e-football and Honor of Kings were selected for the Asian Games. However, as the Nepali government did not register the names of the e-sports players by the deadline of July 15 for the Asian Games, it is almost certain that they will be excluded from the competition despite being selected. At the press conference, the players' single question was – 'Why can't we play in the Asian Games even after qualifying?' Nepal PUBG team manager Homraj Tamang said that the players are suffering the consequences of the dispute between the Nepal Esports Association (NESA) and the E-sports Association of Nepal (E-shan). 'If NESA and E-shan had decided to coordinate and proceed, the country would have been represented. Our players would have had the opportunity to play in the Asian Games in Japan. Why were we not allowed to participate even after qualifying? We have asked the government for an answer, but we have not received it yet,' he said. According to him, the players' years of hard work have gone to waste due to political infighting and lack of coordination between the associations. 'What is the point of continuing in this game now?' Dipesh Gurung, known as 'Delta' in PUBG, said that they are disappointed by the situation of not being able to play despite being selected. 'Do we not understand, or does the government not understand? What kind of players are we who cannot play even after being selected? If we cannot even play in competitions like the Asian Games, what is the point of continuing in this game?' he said. He mentioned that if he cannot play in the Asian Games this time, he might decide to distance himself from PUBG. 20-year-old Sameer Costello said that while his family was proud of him playing for the country, they are now suggesting he focus on his studies. 'At home, they say, you played for the country, and now the country is not letting you play. What is your fault in that? Now focus on your studies,' he said emotionally. Similarly, another player, Sonu Karki, is also being advised by his family to focus on his future by leaving PUBG. According to the players, the state's behavior poses a risk of brain drain for emerging e-sports talents. Direct Impact of Dispute Between Two Associations Currently, two e-sports organizations are active in Nepal. There has been a long-standing dispute between the internationally recognized Nepal Esports Association (NESA) and the E-sports Association of Nepal (E-shan), affiliated with the National Sports Council. The Nepali team had secured a ticket to the Asian Games by playing the qualifiers in Vietnam through NESA. However, due to the lack of coordination in the subsequent administrative process, the players are on the verge of being excluded. The players accuse them of being 'punished' in the dispute between the associations. NSC's Argument: Name Not in Longlist The National Sports Council (NSC) has stated that the e-sports team could not be included in the Asian Games due to the longlist and shortlist process. According to NSC's acting member-secretary Ramcharitra Mehta, it is mandatory for the name to be included in the preliminary longlist to participate in the Asian Games. NESA officials, however, claim that there was pressure from the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Education and Sports not to send e-sports to the Asian Games. But Mehta claims that they have not received any such directive and that the decision to participate in the Asian Games was made independently. Warning of Legal Action The players have raised questions as to why they were not informed in time if they were not to be included due to the dispute between the associations. They have also warned of taking legal action against the government. Furthermore, they accuse that the lack of qualified leadership in sports associations is affecting participation in international competitions, event organization, and overall sports development. Game with Medal Potential Being Ignored Nepal had participated with a 23-member e-sports team in the 19th Asian Games and came close to winning medals in some events. This time, the exclusion of players despite being selected is considered a major setback for Nepal. Samir Costello, Rohit Tamang, Saurabh Tamang, Sonu Karki, and Dipesh Gurung in PUBG; Sushank Kumar Roy, Swastik Maharjan, Vijay Rai, Suyograj Poudel, and Ashish Kunwar in Honor of Kings; and Mavin Dahal and Yunes Koju in e-football were selected for the Asian Games from Nepal. According to experts in the field, depriving selected players of international competition is a matter that tarnishes Nepal's reputation. The Nepali PUBG team is preparing to go to France to play in the e-sports World Cup in the near future. While e-sports is expanding as a major industry worldwide, players in Nepal are facing the brunt of federal disputes and administrative weaknesses, leading to concern among them.