The Somaiya Vidyavihar University (SVU) and Esports startup MOGO have partnered to build India’s first Esports arena, giving students a chance to select Esports as a career trajectory. The Indian company, which recently acquired over Rs 55 crore and was listed on the NASDAQ, is concentrating on expanding the Esports market in India. To develop the new venue, which can house more than 5,000 people, it has funded Rs 8 crore.

“Our focus was creating a platform for students who could choose Esports as a career. We have also joined hands with SVU to start an Esports academy with qualified Esports coaches. This will commence in November 2022. We hope to see many more universities take the same approach,” said Sunny Bhandarkar, CEO, MOGO Esports.

Bhandarkar stated that India has a large reservoir of potential in the Esports industry, including players and game creators, who want encouragement, particularly at the grassroots level. He claimed that the success of the Indian Esports squad at the just-completed Commonwealth Games (CWG) has inspired young players to pursue this field.

At the Commonwealth Esports Championship, the Indian Esports team claimed the bronze medal in DOTA 2. Bhandarkar also mentioned that the corporation has shortlisted a couple more universities and also that the new Esports venue would probably start competing in two years.

“Esports is the fastest growing sport in the world and requires skill and we look forward to making Somaiya an Esports hub,” said Aazaz Khan, Director, Somaiya Sports Academy of Somaiya Vidyavihar University.

The Asian Games, which will take place the following year, will also feature Esports as a championship event for the first time ever, and India will participate in the competition. India is anticipated to have 1 million Esports players this year, up from 600,000 last year, as measured by revenue growth.

According to a report by EY-FICCI 2022, the volume of Esports players massively increased from 3 lakh in 2020 to 6 lakh the next year, in 2021. According to the report by Money Control, the Esports industry’s income increased by 29 percent from Rs 7.5 billion in 2020 to Rs 9.7 billion in 2021.