E-Sports Becomes an Official Sport at the 2022 SEA Games, How is Indonesia's Preparation?
The success of organizing the eSports exhibition tournament at the 2022 Asian Games last August turned out to be continued in other sporting events. According to an official report released by Fox Sports Asia, esports is one of the Category 3 sports proposed by the Philippines South East Asian Games Organizing Committee (PhilSGOC) to be included in the 2022 SEA Games in Manila, along with other sports such as jiu. – Jitsu, lawn bowling/petanque and netball.
Different from his participation in the 2022 Asian Games, which is a non-official exhibition tournament, the implementation of eSports this time is official, where each winner will receive a medal and be counted in the medal standings. Thus, eSports athletes will have a greater opportunity to make their country proud on the international stage.
Then how preparation Indonesia?
As Chairman of the Indonesian e-Sports Association (IeSPA), the parent organization of eSports in Indonesia, Eddy Lim said, “We welcome this latest development and of course for now what we can do is ensure the readiness of time e-sports from Indonesia. The inclusion of Mobile Legends as one of the branches of the game being contested is not surprising, considering the high popularity of the game in the Southeast Asia Region.”
So far, one of the announced game branches has only been Mobile Legends. Eddy said that his party was optimistic that the Indonesian contingent could achieve more in the 2022 SEA Games e-sports event. “I see the possibility of Indonesia being able to achieve more in the upcoming SEA Games. Especially considering the level of competition is less than the last Asian Games.”
Even though so far the other game branches that will be competed are still off the record, Eddy hopes that the implementation of e-sports at the upcoming SEA Games can attract more attention from millennials. “Several e-sports teams from Indonesia have often competed at the local and international level in the Mobile Legends game branch. Meanwhile, in other game branches, such as Clash Royale, we have Ridel who competed at the 2022 Asian Games. Therefore, we are waiting for information on other game branches that will be competed at the 2022 SEA Games.”
Response of the Indonesian eSports Team
The Elite8 eSports team itself also welcomes the entry of the Mobile Legend game branch at the upcoming 2022 SEA Games. “We fully appreciate the achievements of the eSports industry so that Mobile Legends can officially become one of the sports competed at the 2022 SEA Games in the Philippines. Of course, this news is well received by mobile game players because this will increase their enthusiasm to fight for medals to make the eSports team and the country proud. Reflecting on their experience and potential, I believe that eSports athletes from Indonesia have high nationalism and fighting spirit to compete with other countries,” said Heinrich ‘KangPecel’ RamliElite8 team owner.
Furthermore, KangPecel added, “Besides Mobile Legends, various games that are currently popular such as PUBG Mobile and Clash Royale also have a great opportunity to be competed in the SEA Games 2022. Therefore, in 2022, the Elite8 team will focus on the PUBG Mobile game. and started making preparations for the 2022 SEA Games.”
Elite8 team members such as ValdrieN, WhyGEY and KokToy have already demonstrated their abilities in the PUBG game through video streaming on NimoTV. As a platform videogame livestreamNimo TV believes that streaming games can contribute to the development of the eSports and games industry in Indonesia. Apart from being a form of new entertainment category, the platform streaming games It is also a gathering place for video game and eSport fans to hone their skills. Kevin Raharja, Head of Marketing for Nimo TV, said that his party fully supports all forms of preparation that will be carried out by the Indonesian eSports contingent in facing the biggest sporting event in Southeast Asia.
“We believe that aspects of the interaction between fans and streameroffered on livestreaming platforms like Nimo TV can spur support for the pro players involved. In addition, fellow pro players can also learn from each other so that they can hone skillsit’s further away.”
