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Institutional failure ruins historic Asian Games ticket for Nepali esports

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Three Nepali esports teams qualified for the 20th Asian Games in PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
  • These teams are now set to miss the Games due to a dispute between two rival esports associations, ESAN and NESA, over official recognition.
  • The National Sports Development Act mandates a single sports association per sport, but the existence of two parallel bodies has led to administrative confusion and this exclusion.

A significant institutional failure threatens to prevent Nepal's qualified esports teams from competing at the 20th Asian Games, despite their hard-earned victories in regional tournaments. Three teams secured spots in PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang during June qualifiers. However, a protracted dispute between two national esports associations, the Esports Association of Nepal (ESAN) and Nepal Esports Association (NESA), has led to their exclusion.

The core of the conflict lies in official recognition. ESAN is recognized by the National Sports Council (NSC), while NESA holds recognition from international bodies like the International Esports Federation (IESF) and the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF). Nepal's National Sports Development Act, 2077, stipulates that there should be only one sports association for each sport. This dual-governing body situation has consistently created administrative confusion, and now it has directly impacted the players' opportunity to represent their country on a major international stage.

There shall be only one sports association for each sport.

— National Sports Development Act, 2077The legal provision that highlights the conflict arising from the existence of two esports associations in Nepal.

Players from the PUBG Mobile team, including Sameer “Zyo” Costello and Rohit “Zordy” Tamang, finished seventh in the Vietnam qualifiers to secure their Asian Games spot. Similarly, the Honor of Kings team placed sixth in Malaysia, and the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team secured one of the top three positions in Singapore. These teams had been training rigorously, aiming for podium finishes, only to be shattered by the news that Nepal would not be sending an esports contingent.

This situation is not entirely unprecedented, as Nepal's overall participation in the Asian Games faced jeopardy last year due to state interference in the Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC). While initial expectations were for participation in over 30 sports, this number was reduced, and the NSC's decision not to forward esports entries to the NOC has now finalized the exclusion of these qualified players.

We are well aware

— National Sports Council (NSC) officialAn incomplete quote indicating awareness of the situation but not providing a resolution or explanation for the exclusion.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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