In a good piece of news for gaming lovers, Esports has been included in the proposed list of official medal sports to be contested at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) 2025.

AIMAG 2025 is set to take place in Riyadh and it will be the seventh time that the competition is being organized. Saudi Arabia is hosting the event for the first time. The next AIMAG will take place next year in Chonburi, Thailand.

India recently won a bronze medal at the first-ever Commonwealth Esports Championship in Birmingham

Esports is going to make its debut at the Asian Games 2022 as a proper medal event. To note, the Indian DOTA 2 team created history after they clinched the bronze medal at the first-ever Commonwealth Esports Championship 2022 in Birmingham.

Animesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO, of 8bit Creatives, an esports consulting and talent agency, and ex-esports athlete said: “With esports gaining the momentum that it has, it has made its way into various national and international platforms including the Asian Games. The most recent consideration of adding esports to AIMAG 2025, comes as a very welcome move.”

Lokesh Suji, the Director, of the Esports Federation of India and Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF), said: “What better news than this, from the first addition of esports as a demonstration event at AIMAG 2017 to being included as a proper medal event at AIMAG 2021 (postponed due to the pandemic) and now possible inclusion at AIMAG 25 brings us immense joy & excitement.”

“It is safe to say that Esports is not far away from being considered a mainstream sport now courtesy of the remarkable efforts undertaken by the AESF and the OCA. The event AIMAG 2025 is set to take place in Riyadh and the Saudi Arabia government recognized esports as a sport there which is very encouraging,” he added.