2023-09-26 15:33:08
Hangzhou (China) (AFP) – China won the first esports gold medal in Asian Games history at home on Tuesday in Hangzhou, beating Malaysia in the final.
Published on: 09/26/2023 – 5:33 p.m. Modified on: 09/26/2023 – 5:32 p.m.
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The Chinese team defeated the Malaysians 2-0 in the Arena of Valor smartphone game. Thailand completes the podium by capturing the bronze medal at the expense of Vietnam.
Esports made its entry among the medal-winning disciplines during these Asian Games organized in eastern China, a first step before perhaps one day appearing on the program of the Olympic Games.
In total, seven esports titles are on the program for these Asian Games, where competitors must compete in the League of Legends and EA Sports FC Online games.
Tuesday’s event took place at the Hangzhou Esports Center, an enclosure with 4,500 seats that were sold out, with many Chinese fans brandishing flags and banners in support of the host country’s players: “Chinese esports players, take the stage and create legends!”
As proof of its popular success, esports is the only Asian Games discipline where, due to the influx of demand, tickets were sold through a lottery.
“The public who love esports and the veterans of the esports industry have been looking forward to this for a long time,” said Chinese captain Luo Siyuan following his team’s historic victory, confident that “esports will develop further more in the future.
© 2023 AFP
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